Seventy-First Report - Resetting government programmes

Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee HC 1233 15 September 2023
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 25 items (6 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 25 of 25 classified)
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 4
Not Addressed 2
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Seventy-first report from Session 2022-23 · published 18 Nov 2023
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Recommendations & Conclusions

4 results
4 Recommendation Acknowledged
Require HM Treasury and IPA to share insights on programme reset timeframes and review processes
Recommendation
On too many occasions, programmes have suffered from resets being done too quickly. The time needed to undertake a successful reset will vary case-by-case, influenced by factors such as the programme complexity and breadth of the reset. Resets of government … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states it will continue to encourage departments to allow sufficient time for resets, also highlighting the existing IPA ‘response to red’ process. It does not commit to drawing together and sharing specific insights by June 2024.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion Acknowledged
Poor programme planning and deep-rooted issues contribute to the need for resets.
Conclusion
Various factors, both internal and external to a programme, can contribute to the need for a reset.28 We heard how this can include the programme going off track, the need to improve confidence in supplier delivery, or to resolve technical … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observations, outlining existing IPA tools and processes for project planning and assurance. By June 2024, the IPA and HM Treasury will review and update relevant guidance and bring all existing guidance together for easier access.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
IPA's assurance work has become more rigorous, with refreshed tools and trained reviewers.
Conclusion
The IPA suggested that its assurance work has become much more rigorous – it has republished the assurance workbooks it uses to undertake reviews; refreshed its pool of available independent reviewers; and started to provide them with training.33 For the … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observations about the IPA's assurance work by noting that the IPA has recently updated its gate review and assurance mechanisms and is strengthening the ‘response to red’ process for timely interventions.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion Acknowledged
External factors, political changes, and economic pressures often necessitate programme resets.
Conclusion
Although some resets could be avoided, the IPA suggested there may be occasions where multiple resets are necessary, particularly for long-term programmes.35 External factors, including financial pressures, political changes, technology developments or events 22 Q 11 23 Qq 115, 128–129 … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged that some resets could be avoided, and that external factors can lead to a reset.
HM Treasury
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