Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 26
26
The Clerk of the House of Commons recognised the challenge of the Programme’s clients—including Members...
Conclusion
The Clerk of the House of Commons recognised the challenge of the Programme’s clients—including Members and the Commissions—not having a single voice.66 In our view, until Parliament can provide a clear steer on what it wants, it is almost impossible for anything to be delivered.67 We are concerned that the House authorities currently have no answer to the “multibillion-dollar” question of how to identify and future-proof a shared understanding across multiple clients with multiple views of what will be delivered. The Clerk told us that in his opinion bringing the functions of the Sponsor Body into the House service or in a joint department of both Houses could allow for better engagement with stakeholders and a better chance at achieving consensus than the current arrangements have secured.68
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
First bullet - Structures to achieve a single set of objectives and requirements The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation although note it is for both Houses to ultimately agree the programme’s objectives and requirements Target implementation date: 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. The Commissions’ report sets out a proposed new two-tier structure for the governance of the R&R Programme that would oversee the development of a single set of objectives and requirements guided by a long-term vision for the Palace. The Programme Board, as envisaged by the report, would support the long-term vision and oversee the process for engaging with the whole parliamentary community, which includes Members and parliamentary committees, to achieve a single set of requirements for both Houses. The Client Board, enabling the Commissions to act and make decisions jointly, would have overall ownership of the objectives and requirements. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments will facilitate a move to these new structures if endorsed by both Houses of Parliament.