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 …

Clear

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
14 Conclusion Seventy-First Report - Resetting govern… Not Addressed

Ethnic diversity on government programme boards and within departments requires further improvement.

We asked SROs about the diversity of their programme boards, which could help establish an effective, open and constructive environment. For Universal Credit, the SRO explained how, over time, the Board had included women and men in almost equal number fulfilling different roles, alongside representatives from HM Treasury, the IPA …

Government response. The government agrees with the observation but its response focuses on the IPA's work to promote a culture of learning and psychological safety, and a review by June 2024 on enhancing transparency, rather than directly addressing diversity on programme boards …
HM Treasury
15 Conclusion Seventy-First Report - Resetting govern… Not Addressed

Non-executive directors and external challenge provide crucial robust oversight for government programmes.

We were interested to hear about the role of non-executive directors in creating an environment supportive of challenge and diverse thinking. The SRO for Universal Credit explained how it was useful having a non-executive director chairing the Programme Board.49 The SRO for Ajax spoke about how he has reset the …

Government response. The government agrees with the observation but its response focuses on the IPA's work to promote a culture of learning and psychological safety, and a review by June 2024 on enhancing transparency, rather than directly addressing the specific role of …
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 ↗