8
Accepted
The NIC stated that new economic infrastructure must take a cross-sectoral, evidence- based and long-term...
Conclusion
The NIC stated that new economic infrastructure must take a cross-sectoral, evidence- based and long-term perspective.11 It said that this should increase the likelihood that the strategic case will remain relevant and persuasive as time goes on, which is likely to make it easier for delivery bodies to match the scope of the project with its strategic objectives. It told us that in the course of the work on the NIC’s review of Rail Needs Assessment for the North and the Midlands, it has seen a number of examples of the issues the NAO identified occurring with major rail projects, such as significant changes in scope during a project without sufficient review of the objectives and plans, and not considering operations at an early enough stage.12
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, outlining steps already taken or underway including integrating deliverability into planning, implementing an outcomes-focused approach in Spending Review 2020, and establishing Project Speed to improve infrastructure project delivery. HM Treasury will provide further information to the Committee within six months.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Target implementation date: August 2021 1.2 HM Treasury has taken significant steps to ensure that the public and private sectors have the capacity to deliver on its investment commitments and this was a priority ahead of the 2020 Spending Review. To support this, government departments worked with functional experts on key programmes and deliverability and feasibility were integrated into the planning and spending process, for example by requiring departments to use the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) deliverability checklist in their spending proposals. Further scrutiny was applied by a technical appraisal panel on the analysis of specific capital proposals where required. 1.3 Spending Review 2020 also embedded a new focus on real-world outcomes and tied spending and performance more closely together, to ensure that spending delivers value for money. Provisional priority outcomes were published for each UK government department, capturing the government’s long-term policy objectives, from reducing crime to improving education standards across the country. This outcomes- focused approach is part of implementing the Public Value Framework and will place real-world outcomes front and centre in departmental planning and delivery. 1.4 HM Treasury has also established Project Speed, in collaboration with 10 Downing Street and the IPA, to deliver infrastructure projects better, greener and faster. Around 85 Project Speed reforms were announced in the National Infrastructure Strategy in November 2020. The department is now focused on implementing these reforms alongside developing new options to ensure the government is able to deliver on its investment commitments in a timely manner. 1.5 HM Treasury will write to the Committee within six months setting out further information on these measures.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
Thirty-Ninth Report - Lessons from major projects and programmes
29 Jan 2021
HC 694
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.5 yrs
Report published
29 Jan 2021