UK Inquiry Tracker

Resetting government programmes

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 29 Mar 2023 Closed: 18 Nov 2023 Parliament page

Both the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee have examined a number of government programmes which have needed a “reset” for various reasons. The Committee will question two panels of witnesses on programmes that have required resets for any reason such as a reset to what the programme is … Read more

6 Recommendations

19 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

18 Nov
2023

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Seventy-first report from Session 2022-23

15 Sep
2023

Report published

Seventy-First Report - Resetting government programmes

5 Jun
2023

Oral evidence

Resetting Programmes

5 Jun
2023

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Resetting Programmes

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

5 Jun 2023

View on parliament.uk

Resetting Programmes

Conrad Smewing · HM Treasury Dr David Marsh · Ministry of Defence Jim Barton · HM Prisons and Probation Service Matthew Lodge · Department for Transport Neil Couling CBE · Department of Work and Pensions Nick Smallwood · Infrastructure and Projects Authority

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Seventy-First Report - Resetting government programmes	HC 1233	15 Sep 2023	25	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

17 results

2 Conclusion Accepted

Seventy-First Report - Resetting g…

Require IPA to share good practice embedding for upfront planning and assurance regime use

Resets could have been avoided with more realistic upfront planning and scoping, including to better reflect the backdrop against which government programmes operate. This is a critically important part of the inception of any project. We heard that there has … Read more Resets could have been avoided with more realistic upfront planning and scoping, including to better reflect the backdrop against which government programmes operate. This is a critically important part of the inception of any project. We heard that there has been a tendency across Government to re-baseline major projects1, particularly in the Ministry of Defence. The baseline should be agreed at Full Business Case and any scope change should be negotiated with the Treasury. We continually see poor planning as a deep-rooted problem across programmes, which can lead to resets. We would hope to see fewer programmes needing to be reset in the future as the IPA strengthens its assurance regime and its focus on setting up programmes for success. Although some resets are avoidable, for example through investing in up-front planning, other resets will be harder to avoid given the long delivery horizon and complex nature of major programmes. Resets may be a natural consequence for long-term programmes because of macro changes in the economy, technology sector or across society. Political factors, such as changes in ministers or the government composition, may also impact programmes. We heard how Universal Credit had been overseen by around nine secretaries of state since the current Senior Responsible Owner started his role in 2014. 1 Q140 6 Resetting government programmes Recommendation 2: a) Alongside the Treasury Minute response to this report, the IPA should share with us how it is embedding its good practice guidance on upfront planning and scoping, and the changes (with timeframes) it expects to see as a result. This should include providing the Committee with confirmation on how it is using its assurance regime to ensure that programmes do not pass major milestones without having followed planning good practice. The Senior Responsible Owner should produce a reconciliation statement comparing the milestones to what has actually happened on the project. b) By June 2024 Show less

Government Response

The government agrees and commits that by June 2024, the IPA and HM Treasury will review existing guidance on upfront planning to identify gaps and update it, also bringing all relevant guidance together.

HM Treasury

Resetting government programmes

Activity timeline 4 events

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Recommendations & Conclusions

Require IPA to share good practice embedding for upfront planning and assurance regime use

Require IPA to foster openness and transparency across programmes and monitor profession skills

Ensure programme SROs have required skills and stay in post expected length of time.

Encourage departments to understand and manage full risks when resetting major programmes.

Committee took evidence from Treasury, IPA, and four SROs on resetting major programmes.

Government lacks a standard definition for programme resets, hindering lesson identification.

IPA and central government bodies crucial in identifying and building case for programme resets.

Government bodies must consider stopping failing programmes, not just continuing on previous courses.

Time needed for programme resets varies significantly due to complexity and political involvement.

Political pressure often leads to underestimating the necessary time for proper programme resets.

Dedicated 'space' and strategic pauses are crucial for effective government programme resets.

Programme governance arrangements must dynamically evolve throughout lifecycle, especially during and after resets.

Programme resets necessitate specific skills and expertise, requiring adaptable leadership and dedicated teams.

Reset leaders require clear vision, critical skills, and resilience against external pressures.

Effective programme resets require understanding root causes of issues, not just addressing symptoms.

Programme resets introduce new risks requiring a fundamental reassessment of the risk profile.

Programme resets necessitate re-evaluating commercial arrangements and fostering effective supplier relationships.

Government Response AI assessment · 25 of 6 classified