Recommendation 16

It is important to have open and honest conversations on how to progress a programme, including whether a reset is the right solution.52 Where a government body identifies a programme is at risk of not achieving its intended outcomes, it should consider a range of options to address this. This should include whether the programme should be stopped, with costs potentially written off.53 HM Treasury emphasised that it is really important programme teams consider stopping a programme, and starting again, rather than just continuing on the previous course.54 The SRO for electronic monitoring described how, following an IPA review in March 2021, they suspended developing the system which gave them three months’ breathing space to work through whether it was right to carry on with the work or to stop. HM Prison & Probation Service decided to terminate an aspect of its contract with Capita and stopped development of the Gemini case management system.55 On the most recent reset for the Ajax programme we were told that the Ministry of Defence looked at various options, including stopping the programme.56 48 Qq 121–124 49 Qq 12–13 50 Q 15 51 Q 168 52 Qq 104–105, 107 53 C&AG’s Report, para 11 54 Q 116 55 Q 3, C&AG’s Report, Electronic monitoring: a progress update, Session 2022–23, HC 62, 8 June 2022 56 Qq 31–33, 36–37 Resetting government programmes 13 2 Undertaking a reset Allowing time for a reset