Public project assurance methodology
Improvements and rigor needed in public project assurance methodologies, including updated tools and reviewer training.
54 items
1 source
8 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Public project assurance methodology has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
54 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 (54) — showing 50 strongest matches
65 — Manage and fund ATP development through a System Authority
Recommendation: Development of ATP should be managed and funded in future through a System Authority having broad industry representation and support (para 15.13).
Unknown
64 — Rigorous programming and funding of future research and development
Recommendation: Future R&D must be the subject of rigorous programming, cost-projections and funding arrangements, including reliable contingencies. R&D funding must be on a cross-industry basis, irrespective of whether individual TOCs decide to fit new technology (para 16.22).
Unknown
63 — System Authorities to oversee new projects
Recommendation: One or more System Authorities should be created to oversee the specific development of any new project on the railways and to oversee continuation of work on existing projects, including AWS and ATP (paras 15.13, 16.13, 16.18).
Unknown
RHI-32a — Governance Systems Review
Recommendation: The checks and balances within a Department designed to catch problems early failed over many years in DETI to identify certain of the risks of the RHI or their materialisation. All Departments would benefit from reviewing how their governance systems …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-29 — Departmental Finance Functions
Recommendation: The finance function within a Department should exert the necessary authority and capability to fulfil the requirements of 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland', namely to retain a firm grasp of the organisation's financial position and performance. The Inquiry recommends that …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-21 — Sceptical Business Case Scrutiny
Recommendation: The Department of Finance's distinctive role in scrutinising business cases should be searching and sceptical, guarding against over-reliance on the assurances offered by the applicant Department.
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
RHI-19 — Business Case Approval Redesign
Recommendation: The processes within a Department for approving new expenditure and business cases including, where it forms part of that process, the role of Casework Committees, should be thoroughly re-designed to be more rigorous, testing and independent. Such processes should be …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
RHI-16 — Third Party Governance
Recommendation: Where other government bodies, such as Ofgem, or contractors or other third parties are involved in the implementation of a project, the 'home' Department must retain overall control and overall project management. The governance arrangement between the Northern Ireland Department …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
RHI-14 — Risk Tracking and Reporting
Recommendation: The risks involved in implementation of an initiative must be tracked, re-considered regularly and used to manage, improve and adjust the project in real time. How the risks are being acted upon should be reported to the Project Board and …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
RHI-13 — External Expertise on Project Boards
Recommendation: Project boards are an essential element of project management oversight and must include individuals who can challenge and who are not directly responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the project. Such boards, in appropriate circumstances, can benefit greatly from the …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-11 — Project Management Disciplines
Recommendation: Best practice project and risk management disciplines should be the default practice within the Northern Ireland Civil Service when developing novel and complex policies and managing their implementation. These disciplines can be widely applied and should not be confined only …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
RHI-4 — Quality of Ministerial Advice
Recommendation: A lesson from the RHI experience is that action is needed to raise and sustain the quality of advice to Ministers and the clarity with which it is expressed. Options must be properly evaluated and, at the point of formal …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing guidance, including: • the role of the Senior Responsible Officer in respect of the delivery of a project or programme; • existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-3 — Policy Skills Training
Recommendation: As far as practicable, Northern Ireland Civil Service teams working on policies, particularly new and untested initiatives, should be trained and supported so that they have the skills to do the job, not least the ability to model the policy, …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing guidance, including: • the role of the Senior Responsible Officer in respect of the delivery of a project or programme; • existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
61 — Review of acceptance and approval of new equipment or stock
Recommendation: S&SD together with HMRI and other bodies having responsibility for accepting or approving new equipment or stock should review their procedures with a view to reducing delay and introducing fast-track procedures where possible (para 15.7).
Unknown
57 — Resolve inter-company research and development issues
Recommendation: Steps should be taken to put in place means to resolve inter-company issues relating to research and development at all levels. Specifically, the following issues must be addressed (paras 15.13, 16.21).
Unknown
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 …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: The Inquiry Report describes some of the damaging behaviours adopted during project delivery by various parties. The advantage of co locating representatives having an interest in project completion is understood and indeed was successfully adopted …
Accepted
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 …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: While this Recommendation is for third parties who may undertake a readiness review or audit of a publicly funded project in future, it is recommended that the Council agrees to support any such review or …
Noted
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 …
Speaker not recorded. Source: Department of Health, Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, volume 2 (Cm 8777-II), November 2013
Gov response: Accepted. It is good practice for all major changes of policy and of system structure to be carefully considered and taken forward on the basis of a clearly defined purpose and with a clear and …
Accepted
In progress
RHI-23 — Ministerial Notification of Approval Conditions
Recommendation: Ministers should always be advised of any conditions attached to the approval of a policy or project by the Department of Finance. The Department of Finance should also require, and be kept informed of, regular reviews to ensure compliance with …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
RHI-22 — Proactive DoF Monitoring
Recommendation: Particularly where a policy initiative is demand-led, novel, complex and/or likely to be lengthy, consideration should be given to increasing Department of Finance involvement from an early stage and on an ongoing basis, including a more proactive role in monitoring …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-15 — Programme Boards for Sector Coordination
Recommendation: Co-ordination of groups of projects aiming to achieve change in a particular sector – e.g. renewable energy projects – would be stronger through use of high level Programme Boards. Such boards should meet regularly and receive reports of relevant experience …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
RHI-12 — Invest NI and SIB Collaboration
Recommendation: The leaders of the Northern Ireland Civil Service should work with Invest Northern Ireland and the Strategic Investment Board to consider how both organisations can better contribute their expertise to the work of mainstream Departments, particularly in relation to good …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; • work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-2 — Novel Policy Scrutiny
Recommendation: Novel, potentially volatile and untested initiatives should in future be scrutinised thoroughly, well ahead of ministerial and business case approval. The Inquiry commends processes such as a 'starting point Gateway assessment' and, at a suitable point, a 'feasibility signoff' completed …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing guidance, including: • the role of the Senior Responsible Officer in respect of the delivery of a project or programme; • existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
COVID-M5.9 — Commercial Framework for Emergency Procurement
Recommendation: The UK government and devolved administrations should collaborate to establish a UK-wide commercial framework agreement of pre-approved external specialists in the emergency procurement and distribution of healthcare equipment. The framework should be refreshed every three years.
Gov response: No formal government response published. The Northern Ireland Executive had not published a response to the Module 5 report of 14 July 2026 when the Executive Office's publications list was checked on 25 September 2026.
No response yet
SHI-10 — Uniform policy for obtaining technical advice
Recommendation: This issue was highlighted in the Grant Thornton report where similar recommendations are made to what is set out above. NHSL has taken steps to address the issue. However, it is not clear from the available evidence that any such …
Words of: Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, in a letter to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 17 September 2025
Gov response: On 13 March 2025, I made a statement in parliament, addressing the Interim Report and its recommendations. I accepted all recommendations and committed to provide a future update on progress around the implementation of those …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
SHI-7 — Independent validation of hospital construction
Recommendation: It is clearly desirable that a health board has the assurance prior to the handover of a new or refurbished healthcare facility that the facility's specialised ventilation systems have been independently validated by an Authorising Engineer as fit for purpose …
Words of: Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, in a letter to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 17 September 2025
Gov response: On 13 March 2025, I made a statement in parliament, addressing the Interim Report and its recommendations. I accepted all recommendations and committed to provide a future update on progress around the implementation of those …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
SHI-6 — Information on common construction errors
Recommendation: NHS Assure should consider, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, whether and how to provide health boards with more detailed information about common errors and issues experienced by other health boards than is currently provided.
Words of: Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, in a letter to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 17 September 2025
Gov response: On 13 March 2025, I made a statement in parliament, addressing the Interim Report and its recommendations. I accepted all recommendations and committed to provide a future update on progress around the implementation of those …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
SHI-5 — Streamlining NHS construction quality procedures
Recommendation: A range of procedures now exists to help ensure health board projects meet appropriate standards. One is the NHS Scotland Design Assessment Process ("NDAP"). There is also a Sustainable Design and Construction Procedure ("SDAC"). In addition, there is the NHS …
Words of: Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, in a letter to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, 17 September 2025
Gov response: On 13 March 2025, I made a statement in parliament, addressing the Interim Report and its recommendations. I accepted all recommendations and committed to provide a future update on progress around the implementation of those …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-24 — Duty of Disclosure Legislation
Recommendation: The Scottish Ministers should also give consideration to the need for legislation to impose a similar duty of disclosure to that owed by policyholders to their insurers upon a company, its directors, employees or consultants and upon a local authority …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: Presiding Officer, I emphasise that we will continue to very carefully consider each of the recommendations, noting where action has already been taken or has always been best practice as well as crucially where we …
Response Unclear
ETI-23 — Criminal Sanctions for Misleading Information
Recommendation: In addition to any civil liability arising from any sanction introduced in accordance with Recommendation 22, the Scottish Ministers should consider whether there is a need for a statutory criminal offence involving strict liability once it is established that the …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, answers to questions on her statement, Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (Official Report)
Gov response: As for what the Government can do, the report recommended to us the development of specific sanctions under the civil law of damages, and made a call for a criminal statutory offence. We are giving …
Response Unclear
ETI-22 — Civil Sanctions for Misleading Reports
Recommendation: Where a company, including an ALEO, knowingly submits a report or other information to local authority officials that is misleading by reason of the inclusion of false statements or the omission of relevant facts or where such officials knowingly submit …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, answers to questions on her statement, Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (Official Report)
Gov response: As for what the Government can do, the report recommended to us the development of specific sanctions under the civil law of damages, and made a call for a criminal statutory offence. We are giving …
Response Unclear
ETI-21 — Duty of Officials to Councillors
Recommendation: Local authority officials should be mindful at all times of the distinction in roles between them and councillors, who are solely responsible for strategic decisions, and of their duty to provide accurate reports to councillors to enable them to take …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: The Council’s relationship with its Arm-Length External Organisations (ALEOs) is outlined in the Tram Inquiry report and there are two recommendations (20 and 21) that relate to misleading the authority, scrutiny and challenge and the …
Accepted
ETI-20 — Prohibition on Misleading Reports from ALEOs
Recommendation: The directors, employees and consultants of the company responsible for the procurement and delivery of the project as project managers, including an arm’s-length external organisation (“ALEO”) wholly owned by the local authority that is the promoter and owner of the …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: The Council’s relationship with its Arm-Length External Organisations (ALEOs) is outlined in the Tram Inquiry report and there are two recommendations (20 and 21) that relate to misleading the authority, scrutiny and challenge and the …
Accepted
ETI-16 — Design Engagement Process
Recommendation: Immediately following the appointment of the designer, and throughout the design of the project, the designer should engage with the promoter and owner of the project, the procurement and project manager, the local planning authority, the utility companies and interested …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: The Inquiry Report identifies a difference in the approach taken by the Council to design before and after the Mar Hall mediation. Prior to the mediation there was not a single point of contact at …
Accepted
ETI-15 — Qualified Project Management
Recommendation: In recognition of the various difficulties likely to be experienced in the design and construction of a light rail project through a city centre, the promoter and owner of the project should appoint as its procurement and project manager a …
Words of: Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, report "Response to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry" to the Council, 14 December 2023 (item 7.1)
Gov response: The Inquiry Report highlights a number of instances where there was insufficient experience in delivery to give assurance that the project would be properly managed. The procurement and project management of a project is key …
Accepted
ETI-14 — Utility Diversion Risk Management
Recommendation: Although some participants in the Inquiry criticised the use of MUDFA to divert utilities in advance of the infrastructure works and advocated the “bow wave” approach to the diversion of utilities that followed the mediation settlement at Mar Hall, I …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
ETI-13 — Utility Diversion Planning
Recommendation: The procurement strategy for any future light rail project should make adequate provision for the uncertainties concerning the location of utilities and redundant equipment belonging to present and past utility companies, particularly in urban centres. In particular, although it is …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
ETI-11 — Public Fund Protection
Recommendation: The Scottish Ministers and local authorities responsible for funding light rail projects should be mindful at all times of their obligation to protect public funds and to obtain value for public expenditure. In that regard: • the Scottish Ministers should …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: Presiding Officer, let me now turn to recommendations that involve collaboration with and working alongside COSLA and our Local Authority partners. Effective collaboration sits at the heart of this Government and the recently agreed Verity …
Noted
ETI-10 — Joint Working Group with COSLA
Recommendation: In the interests of protecting the public purse and maximising the benefits from public expenditure on major projects, the Scottish Ministers should contemplate establishing a joint working group consisting of officials in Transport Scotland and representatives of the Convention of …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, answers to questions on her statement, Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (Official Report)
Gov response: We will consider that recommendation on a case-by-case basis. The recommendation itself applies only to light rail, so that minimises the cases that it could apply to, but we will absolutely consider it. However, I …
Response Unclear
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 …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
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 …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: Furthermore, we follow detailed Government guidance on procurement, risk and optimism bias as enshrined in the Treasury’s Green Book, the Scottish Government’s Client Guide to Construction Projects and the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Indeed, the …
Noted
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 …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
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.
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
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 …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a …
Noted
ETI-4 — Inquiry Cost Transparency
Recommendation: In reporting the cost of a public inquiry Scottish Ministers should report its net cost to the public purse, after discounting expenditure already incurred on accommodation, staff and other resources, as well as the total cost appearing in the accounts …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, answers to questions on her statement, Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (Official Report)
Gov response: I note that one of Lord Hardie’s recommendations was about presenting only the net costs of public inquiries, less the costs for accommodation and staff. To be frank, I do not agree with that recommendation. …
Not accepted
ETI-2 — Inquiry Independence
Recommendation: In any event Scottish Ministers should not appoint as the sponsor of any public inquiry any department, agency or other government organisation where it, or any of its employees, has had any involvement in the project or other event giving …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: We are working through all of these recommendations, but I can report that additional guidance similar to that suggested is already in development with reference to the efficient establishment and delivery of public inquiries and …
Response Unclear
ETI-1 — Public Inquiry Efficiency
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers should undertake a review of public inquiries to determine the most cost-effective method of avoiding delay in the establishment of an inquiry, including consideration of establishing a dedicated unit within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and publishing …
Words of: Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, statement to the Scottish Parliament, 2 November 2023 (text as published by the Scottish Government)
Gov response: We are working through all of these recommendations, but I can report that additional guidance similar to that suggested is already in development with reference to the efficient establishment and delivery of public inquiries and …
Response Unclear
RHI-17 — Professional Development
Recommendation: The Northern Ireland Civil Service should take steps to draw on best practice from other jurisdictions to provide more support for professions within the civil service. The Inquiry specifically recommends: (a) the establishment of a project management profession with a …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: • initial steps to establish a project delivery profession which will, once in place, take forward the recommended programme …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-10 — External Consultants Guidance
Recommendation: The Northern Ireland Civil Service should consider what changes are needed to its guidance and practices on the use of external consultants arising from the experience of RHI. Specific recommendations include: (a) that better assessments are needed at the outset …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed through work to date, including: • job-specific appointments within the NICS generalist grades; • the piloting of Cabinet Office’s “Commercial Skills Assessment and Development …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-1 — Policy Skills Assessment
Recommendation: A new policy at its earliest stage should be subject to a rigorous process to determine whether the Northern Ireland devolved administration has (or is prepared to assign) the necessary skills and resources to deliver the policy safely and competently. …
Words of: Northern Ireland Executive, Executive Response to the RHI Inquiry Report Recommendations and Action Plan, Annex A, 7 October 2021
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing guidance, including: • the role of the Senior Responsible Officer in respect of the delivery of a project or programme; • existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs