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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Resetting government programmes

Status: Closed Opened: 29 Mar 2023 Closed: 18 Nov 2023 6 recommendations 19 conclusions 1 report

Both the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee have examined a number of government programmes which have needed a “reset” for various reasons. The Committee will question two panels of witnesses on programmes that have required resets for any reason such as a reset to what the programme is delivering, how or when it …

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventy-First Report - Resetting government programmes HC 1233 15 Sep 2023 25 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
8 Conclusion Seventy-First Report - Resetting govern… Accepted in Part

Negative perceptions of programme resets deter early problem reporting and resolution.

SROs described how it would be helpful if resets were seen more positively, which HM Treasury suggested government was moving towards.18 They also commented that resets can be seen as a failure and can be a traumatic event for programme staff, after which the confidence of the team would need …

Government response. The government agrees with the observation and states that the IPA already fosters a culture of continuous learning and psychological safety through courses. The IPA will also review how it can further enhance transparency across government programs by June 2024 …
HM Treasury
13 Conclusion Seventy-First Report - Resetting govern… Accepted in Part

Lack of an open environment hinders timely problem reporting and identification of reset needs.

Without the right environment, individuals may be afraid to report problems in a timely and honest way, which makes it harder to identify the need for a reset and the issues a reset should address.41 We heard from the SRO for Universal Credit that creating this openness was the hardest, …

Government response. The government agrees with the observation, noting the IPA already promotes a culture of psychological safety and learning through courses. The IPA will also review by June 2024 how to further improve transparency in government programs to encourage open and …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
5 Jun 2023 Conrad Smewing · HM Treasury, Dr David Marsh · Ministry of Defence, Jim Barton · HM Prisons and Probation Service, Matthew Lodge · Department for Transport, Neil Couling CBE · Department of Work and Pensions, Nick Smallwood · Infrastructure and Projects Authority View ↗