In May 2022, the Clerk of the House of Commons told us that this period of uncertainty was “highly corrosive and damaging” for retaining the vital expertise needed to develop the Programme.24 This echoed the Delivery Authority’s comments to us in March, that there was a significant risk it would lose the expertise, capability and skills built up over the last 18 months. This includes those working within the organisations and contractors who have worked on the programme for an extended period and built-up expertise of the Palace’s unique challenges.25 Since May 2020, both the Sponsor Body and the Delivery Authority have expanded with staff increases of 40% and 74% respectively, which includes a fall in the number of interim staff used.26