Recommendation 29

The Treasury said its spending review controls require the lead NED on the transformation committee to assure Ministers that the finances of the programme are under control.84, and it now seeks quarterly affirmation from NS&I NEDs on progress before releasing funds.85 We asked the Treasury how NS&I could deliver the programme if the budget had been fixed before the outcome was determined. The Treasury reiterated that the programme needed a plan first, and denied that if NS&I asked for more funding beyond agreed amounts it would automatically get it.86 It acknowledged that Ministers would need ultimately decide whether to increase the budget later, and would expect NS&I to present options for meeting the budget set at the spending review.87 80 Q 18; C&AG’s Report, Figure 9 81 Q 17; C&AG’s Report, para 9 82 Qq 18, 39, 42 83 Q 44 84 Q 16 85 Q 42 86 Q 26 87 Qq 27-31 17