Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Nevertheless, there are clearly elements of the challenge which could be applied to future programmes.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, there are clearly elements of the challenge which could be applied to future programmes. For example, the Cabinet Office told us that it took a number of steps to ensure that suppliers costs were reasonable, such as working on an open-book basis using the Ministry of Defence’s Cost Assurance Analysis Service and working with participants to cancel orders for parts that weren’t needed or selling them on the open market. It also showed commitment to transparency and accountability, maintaining sufficient records of the programmes rationale, key spending decisions it took and the information it had to base it on.27 Skills and expertise
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4: PAC conclusion: The ventilator challenge was an exceptional and far from traditional approach that offers some lessons for future programmes although they could not be applied wholesale under normal circumstances. 4: PAC recommendation: As part of its treasury minute response, the Cabinet Office should work with participants to understand and ensure the right lessons from the ventilator challenge are learnt. It should publicise: • which lessons were unique to the circumstances; • which can be applied to future programmes. It should ensure these lessons are disseminated to the appropriate government departments or functions; and • be clear about the risk to taxpayers’ money of this innovative approach. 4.1 The government agrees with this recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: June 2021 4.2 The Government Commercial Function is in the process of updating the Outsourcing Playbook V2 which will be launched as a Sourcing Playbook in Spring/Summer 2021 and will incorporate the lessons from the Ventilator Challenge that can be applied to future programmes. The Ventilator Challenge lessons will be captured as a case study and used as part of training on risk - this will be disseminated as part of the regular knowledge sharing sessions with government departments.