Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Programme resets necessitate re-evaluating commercial arrangements and fostering effective supplier relationships.
Conclusion
The risk profile of a programme may shift with changes to the commercial approach or how this is managed during a reset. For a reset, the government body will need to consider what existing arrangements with delivery partners mean for how to undertake a reset and what it could achieve.89 Programme teams need to work with suppliers and delivery partners to establish an effective relationship for the reset and beyond.90 The SRO for electronic monitoring mentioned the role of the Government Commercial Function. It was very helpful to them as they were working through how to reset their commercial relationship with a provider who was a strategic government supplier.91 We were told that their relationship with the supplier has improved post settlement.92 The SRO for Universal Credit raised the importance of time to have discussions with suppliers to create a win- win situation.93 80 Qq 161–162 81 Qq 136–137 82 C&AG’s Report, para 2 83 Qq 97, 104, 134 84 C&AG’s Report, para 14 85 C&AG’s Report, para 27 86 Qq 21–22 87 Q 65 88 Q 68 89 Q 150; C&AG’s Report, para 18–19 90 C&AG’s Report, para 18 91 Q 17 92 Q 83 93 Q 84 16 Resetting government programmes
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusions, stating that the IPA will develop guidance on effectively managing the reset process to address new risks, particularly those related to commercial arrangements with suppliers. The IPA will also consider how to better support departments in managing these risks through existing assurance mechanisms.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 As part of its commitment to develop guidance relating to resets, the IPA will set out how to manage the reset process effectively to ensure that new risks, such as those relating to commercial arrangements with suppliers, can be properly managed and therefore increase the likelihood of resets being successful. It will also consider how it can better support departments to manage these risks as part of its existing assurance mechanisms. 6.3 The IPA provided further information in a letter to the Committee, issued alongside the publication of this Treasury Minute.