Despite the lack of information on timetable and cost, NS&I claimed it was confident that it could find a way to deliver the Programme by 2028, by “deprioritising” some aspects of the Programme.22 When asked how it could be confident without an agreed integrated plan, NS&I could only say this was a “good question”.23 NS&I acknowledged it should have appointed a “big, heavyweight” systems integrator earlier, and said this could have improved its planning process.24 When asked what evidence or assessment had led it to conclude that the Programme’s approach of introducing multiple contracts to manage would be easier than managing one large contract, it had no answer, other than there were benefits of being able to switch suppliers in future.25