Major Project Scope Uncertainty
Uncertainty regarding the scope of major public projects, with political decision-making identified as a significant risk to progress.
18 items
1 source
6 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Major Project Scope Uncertainty has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
18 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (18)
SHI-3 — Clarity in brief for healthcare facility construction
Recommendation: It is critical that a health board formulates and then presents its requirements for the key building systems in a proposed healthcare facility (its "brief") in terms which are full, clear, and unambiguous, and that that brief is finalised before …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025. Progress update 17 September 2025: The Scottish Government will adjust its procurement process to accommodate a gateway meeting prior to Financial …
Accepted
In progress
SHI-2 — Risk assessment on funding model changes
Recommendation: Accordingly, in situations where the funding model or procurement route changes mid project, a risk assessment should be conducted to assess whether work done on the project up to that point is suitable for the revised project. The rationale for …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025. Progress update 17 September 2025: The procuring NHS body will assess whether work done on the project up to that point …
Accepted
In progress
R5 — Hospital future uncertainty resolution
Recommendation: Scottish Government should ensure that where any uncertainty over the future of any hospital or service exists, resolution of the uncertainty is not delayed any longer than is essential for planning and consultation to take place.
Gov response: Section 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response outlines broader health policy initiatives, including the 2020 Vision and the integration of health and social care, which aim to improve care and ensure efficient resource use. It …
Accepted
ETI-19 — Collaborative Delivery
Recommendation: At all stages of the project there should be a collaborative approach to delivering it. This should include the co-location of representatives from each organisation relevant to the particular stage reached and having an interest in its completion to enable …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-18 — Interviews of Key Personnel in Readiness Reviews
Recommendation: As part of their investigations, representatives of OGC undertaking an independent “readiness review” of a publicly funded project and representatives of any person, including representatives of any public body such as Audit Scotland, undertaking a review of the progress of …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-9 — Risk Management Standards
Recommendation: The identification and management of risk should be an integral part of the governance of all major public-sector contracts in future. In identifying and managing risk the following principles should be adopted: • Probabilistic forecasts rather than single-point forecasts should …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-8 — Update Optimism Bias Guidance
Recommendation: The existing Guidance on optimism bias was based on empirical data available almost two decades ago and should be revised to take into account the additional data that is now available. In particular, the reference classes should be updated to …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices but will consider updating guidance. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-7 — External Peer Review
Recommendation: The assessment of risk at each stage mentioned in Recommendation 6 should be the subject of a peer review by external consultants with experience of similar large-scale infrastructure projects in the transportation sector who should submit a report of each …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-6 — Optimism Bias in Business Cases
Recommendation: All versions of the Business Case, including any Business Case required as a result of altered assumptions, should include an assessment of risk that takes account of optimism bias in accordance with the current published government guidance.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-5 — Business Case Timing
Recommendation: Where the Business Case for any future light rail project is based upon an assumption that, prior to the award of the contract for the construction of the infrastructure, certain matters will have been completed (e.g. design, the obtaining of …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
37 — Protocol for organisational change transitions
Recommendation: Organisational change that alters or transfers responsibilities and accountability carries significant risk, which can be mitigated only if well managed. We recommend that an explicit protocol be drawn up setting out how such processes will be managed in future. This …
Gov response: 100. We accept this recommendation. We agree that these are important concepts, and indeed a number of protocols were drawn up and widely communicated in managing changes to the health system in 2012. The Department …
Accepted
HIDD-49 — Develop system for allocating project priority to prevent safety compromise
Recommendation: BR shall develop an adequate system of allocating priority to projects to ensure that safety standards are not compromised by delay.
Unknown
HIDD-32 — Establish direct reporting line for Testing Engineer to overall scheme charge
Recommendation: BR shall ensure that the Testing Engineer shall be ultimately responsible to the person in overall charge of the scheme, but not through the Project Manager.
Unknown
HIDD-31 — Require external work to be contractual, specified by Project Manager
Recommendation: BR shall ensure that where work is required from areas outside the command of the person in overall charge, that work should be carried out on a contractual basis to a specification provided by the Project Manager.
Unknown
HIDD-30 — Ensure Project Managers have sufficient authority for safe scheme delivery
Recommendation: BR shall ensure that the Project Manager is of sufficient seniority and has sufficient authority to ensure that the scheme is delivered safely, efficiently and economically.
Unknown
HIDD-29 — Appoint a single Project Manager for all major schemes
Recommendation: BR shall ensure that there is a single Project Manager for all major schemes, who shall be responsible for the overall planning, management and execution of the scheme.
Unknown
F286 — Impact assessments before structural change
Recommendation: Impact and risk assessments should be made public, and debated publicly, before a proposal for any major structural change to the healthcare system is accepted. Such assessments should cover at least the following issues: What is the precise issue or …
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
36 — Impact assessment of policy changes
Recommendation: The cumulative impact of new policies and processes, particularly the perceived pressure to achieve Foundation Trust status, together with organisational reconfiguration, placed significant pressure on the management capacity of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to deliver …
Gov response: 97. We accept this recommendation in principle. We acknowledge the Investigation’s findings that the pursuit of Foundation Trust status distorted management capacity and priorities at Morecambe Bay. 98. In response to the failings at both …
Accepted