Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
The Clerk of the House of Commons explained that the technical capacity needed to take...
Conclusion
The Clerk of the House of Commons explained that the technical capacity needed to take on the Sponsor Body’s role was well beyond anything within the House administrations’ in-house resource. He suggested there will need to be a professional client function with the same mix of professional skills as the Sponsor Body’s current team.40 We heard that the House administrations were not resourced to take on the Sponsor Body’s role, which included overseeing the Delivery Authority’s performance and providing Programme sponsorship.41 33 HC49 Q 28 34 HC1100 Q 88 35 HC1100 Qq 47, 159 36 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 37 House of Commons Commission, Decisions, 1 February 2022 38 House of Lords Commission, Minutes, 8 February 2022 39 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 40 HC1100 Qq 96–97 41 HC1100 Q 96 14 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Second bullet - skills and expertise The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments commit to implement this recommendation. Target implementation date: Not applicable, as this recommendation is ongoing. As noted in paragraph 27 of the Commissions’ report, the Delivery Authority will remain in place, and will remain independent, under the Commissions’ proposals. It is worth noting that the vast majority of the people working on the programme are employed by the Delivery Authority or its supply chain. The CEO of the Delivery Authority will remain accountable for the skills and expertise to deliver the Programme, and their independence remains unchanged. The creation of the Client Team as a new Joint Department within Parliament is the responsibility of the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House, and they will be responsible for ensuring it has the right capabilities. An interim CEO was announced on 26 May 2022. Dr Patsy Richards has been seconded from the House of Commons to provide the leadership and stability needed by the sponsor function at this time. The interim CEO is assessing capability and capacity gaps within the sponsor function to ensure it has the necessary skills and expertise. This exercise will be completed by the end of the summer recess. Proposals by the two Clerks regarding the application of TUPE legislation to transfers of those staff working in the Sponsor Body aim to mitigate the risk of losing staff with the right experience and skills. Paragraph 42 of the Commissions’ Report sets out that the Programme Board “will bring together Parliamentary and lay members, with the right skills and expertise, especially in major programmes, to fulfil its remit.” The Client Board, once established, will consider proposals for the membership of the Programme Board and appoint its members. Subject to endorsement by both Houses of Parliament, the target date for implementing the new two-tier governance structure is the end of the calendar year.