8
Accepted
Witnesses admitted there should have been stronger governance and more scrutiny of the programme from...
Conclusion
Witnesses admitted there should have been stronger governance and more scrutiny of the programme from the Ministry of Justice. In late 2019, HMPPS prepared an 6 Q 90 7 Q 17 8 Qq 21, 26; C&AG’s report, para 3 9 Q 20; C&AG’s report, para 3.4 10 Q 22; C&AG’s report, para 2.4 11 C&AG’s report, para 3.4 12 Q 78 10 Transforming electronic monitoring services ‘addendum’ to its business case for the programme, as Capita’s delays in developing Gemini would require a further extension to its interim contract. Although this approach to extending the programme complied with rules in place at the time, the NAO found that this approach required more limited support and less challenge than if the programme had been formally reconsidered through a revised business case.13 HMPPS told us that as the changes fell within the scope of the business case and the then Senior Responsible Owner’s delegated authority, the programme team asked the Ministry’s investment committee “only to note the decision”.14 It also told us that had the programme pursued a termination of Capita’s contract at that point, this would have involved more detailed governance and scrutiny. HMPPS told us that it believed that its decision to extend the programme was right, as changes it made to its systems and moving them to the cloud enabled its plans to expand tagging services over the previous 18 months.15
Government Response Summary
The government stated it had already implemented measures, introducing an improved control framework in November 2021 and strengthening departmental governance structures during 2021-22 with additional sub-committees and early warning indicator controls.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented. 1.2 The roles and structure of the Ministry of Justice’s (the department’s) boards and committees is provided on Gov.uk. The department’s Investment Committee has delegated powers to make decisions on its Executive Committee’s behalf on portfolio projects from inception through to implementation, ensuring they remain strategically aligned, affordable and deliverable. This includes scrutiny and approval of business cases of £30 million whole‑life cost and above; setting permissible tolerances for costs, benefits, schedule, quality, scope and performance; and acts as gatekeeper in respect of the release of gated funding. 1.3 An improved control framework was introduced in November 2021, whereby the Investment Committee approves both the permissible tolerance levels and early warning indicator controls for time, cost, quality and risk when approving a business case. These are reconsidered at each subsequent business case stage. 1.4 Additionally, the department’s governance structures were strengthened during 2021-22 with additional Executive Committee sub-committees, including the Delivery Board, to provide assurance that strategic outcomes and commitments are on track to be delivered and the Portfolio Committee, to provide project portfolio oversight. Early warning indicator controls identify metrics at risk of variance from agreed baselines between business case stages, enabling implementation of corrective action(s) and reporting to the Investment Committee when permitted tolerance levels are breached. The improved controls and metrics overseen by this strengthened governance framework deliver positive outcomes through earlier intervention, increased departmental scrutiny and utilisation of defined escalation pathways. 1.5 The department considers that these arrangements provide an effective framework to prevent significant losses to the taxpayer across its portfolio of major projects and programmes.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
Electronic Monitoring programme
Report
Twenty-First Report: Transforming electronic monitoring services
21 Oct 2022
HC 34
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
3.8 yrs
Report published
21 Oct 2022