17 Acknowledged

Benefits must be prioritised and reported.

Recommendation
Benefits must be prioritised and reported. The IPA should report against benefits plans consistently in its annual reports from 2021–22. Consistent reporting of benefits should include a standardised financial measure, reported as trend data (showing the benefit agreed at the outset, alongside any agreed changes at specific dates, up to current forecasts) alongside a narrative of transformational benefits promised.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that benefits should be reported and encourages departments to publish their data. However, the IPA is only 'taking steps to explore' how benefits can be published in future Annual Reports, without committing to the specific timeline, standardised financial measures, or trend data requested.
Paragraph Reference
82
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
including benefits being properly scoped and understood. Government agrees that benefits should be reported and the IPA encourages departments to publish their own data and provide information to Parliament and committees setting out forecasted and realised benefits throughout the project and programme lifecycle. The IPA are taking steps to explore how they can publish benefits in future Annual Reports.
Source
Committee Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Inquiry The Government’s management of its major projects
Report Third Report - Delivering the Government’s infrastructure commitments through major projects 28 Jul 2020 HC 125
View on Parliament website
Timeline
Recommendation age 6.0 yrs
Report published 28 Jul 2020