22 Acknowledged

Treasury's 'earned autonomy model' for NS&I means intervention only occurs after issues emerge

Conclusion
NS&I has its own accounting officer and its own Board, and is responsible for the Programme, while the Treasury is NS&I’s sponsor in government and also has a role overseeing major programmes across government.64 The Treasury told us that it has to judge how it provides this oversight, operating an “earned autonomy model”, so that “If everything is going well, we will leave it more alone, and if not, we will intervene”.65
Government Response Summary
The Treasury and NS&I acknowledge concerns about the Treasury's oversight role and are committed to addressing them through robust planning, risk management, and governance, including developing a comprehensive integrated plan and strengthening systems integration capabilities.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The Treasury and NS&I acknowledge these concerns and are committed to addressing them through robust planning, risk management, and governance. NS&I is working to develop a comprehensive integrated plan that includes clear timelines, cost estimates, and resource allocation. NS&I has strengthened its systems integration capabilities and is ensuring that decisions are based on sound evidence and analysis.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.3 yrs
Report published 13 Feb 2026