24
Accepted
The National Audit Office set out that HM Treasury approved funding of £1.2 billion for...
Conclusion
The National Audit Office set out that HM Treasury approved funding of £1.2 billion for the Weybridge redevelopment programme in March 2020, below the Department’s current cost estimate of £2.8 billion. The Department confirmed that this includes agreed funding of £200 million up to 2024–25 to enable it to undertake further work to ensure its cost and benefit estimates are robust in advance of the next Programme Business Case in June 2024.45 The Department thought that HM Treasury had a good understanding of the importance of the redevelopment programme and that further decisions on funding would be made as part of the spending review in 2024.46
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, committing to refine cost and benefit estimates for the Weybridge redevelopment programme through 2024-25, leading to a main investment decision in summer 2024, and has allocated £198 million for preparatory work.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 4.2 The department will continue work across the first tranche of the programme (through to 2024-25) to refine its understanding of the costs and benefits, which will feed into the main investment decision for the redevelopment of the site, required in summer 2024, ahead of the main build phase for Science Capability for Animal Health Programme (SCAH). It will update the Committee via Treasury Minutes on progress. In the meantime, £198 million has been allocated over the current Spending Review 2021, to enable preparatory work to progress on site. 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 5.2 The cost estimate will continue to be developed over the current tranche, through to the main investment decision in 2024, including how uncertainty is reflected in those costings. It is the intention of the department to introduce cost ranges.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Twenty-Fourth Report - Redevelopment of Defra’s animal health infrastructure
16 Nov 2022
HC 42
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
3.7 yrs
Report published
16 Nov 2022