21 Accepted

Project data should be reported in ranges, which reflect quantified risks to costs and timescales.

Recommendation
Project data should be reported in ranges, which reflect quantified risks to costs and timescales. The IPA should start reporting ranges for any newly-approved projects immediately, and HM Treasury should state an expectation that projects going through Treasury Approval Processes (TAP) present ranges as a default.. (Paragraph 92) Delivering the Government’s infrastructure commitments through major projects 35
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating its aim for projects to use cost and schedule ranges. It confirmed that departments are already reporting data in ranges and the IPA is working to refine guidance and strengthen its assurance regime for this new reporting method.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
Government’s aim is to ensure projects are not locked into unrealistic point estimates when announcements are made, and projects use ranges when presenting costs and schedules. This was requested in the last quarterly Government Major Projects data return from departments who have reported costs and timescales as ranges. The IPA is working with departments to refine and provide guidance on this new way of reporting. The IPA is currently strengthening the assurance regime to deepen its impact, including refining its processes to make more use of the project data to inform reviews.
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