Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Acknowledged
The Department said that its Programme Business Case clearly sets out the trade and economic...
Conclusion
The Department said that its Programme Business Case clearly sets out the trade and economic benefits of increasing the UK’s resilience to animal diseases. However, it highlighted that quantifying and putting values to these benefits is challenging as the relationship between investing in science facilities and the benefit this generates in not straightforward. As a result, the Department has taken a cautious approach to valuing the benefits of the redevelopment programme.49 Cost estimates
Government Response Summary
The department will continue work across the first tranche of the programme to refine its understanding of the costs and benefits, which will feed into the main investment decision for the redevelopment of the site, required in summer 2024.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4. PAC conclusion: It is not yet certain that there will be sufficient investment in developing the Weybridge site capacity to ensure the UK’s long-term resilience to animal diseases. 4. PAC recommendation: The Department needs to work with HM Treasury to establish a more certain funding position for the Weybridge redevelopment programme. In doing this, the Department will need to improve its understanding of the benefits of the programme to support the investment case. In addition to its Treasury Minute response, the Department should provide the Committee with a further update on the status of Weybridge’s funding shortfall by Summer 2023. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 4.2 The department will continue work across the first tranche of the programme (through to 2024-25) to refine its understanding of the costs and benefits, which will feed into the main investment decision for the redevelopment of the site, required in summer 2024, ahead of the main build phase for Science Capability for Animal Health Programme (SCAH). It will update the Committee via Treasury Minutes on progress. In the meantime, £198 million has been allocated over the current Spending Review 2021, to enable preparatory work to progress on site.