Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
New mega-project governance involves top-level political decisions informed by official panels.
Recommendation
We asked NISTA how the gateway and business case process will be strengthened to give better assurance on project affordability and value for money. NISTA told us there is now a distinction between mega projects and major projects with new governance arrangements being put in place for mega projects.39 The new arrangements for mega projects involve decisions at each stage gate being made by the Prime Minister, Chancellor and 36 C&AG’s Report, paras 1, 4.9, 4.11 37 Committee of Public Accounts, HS2: Update following the Northern leg cancellation, Tenth Report of Session 2024–25, HC 357, 28 February 2025 38 James Stewart, Stewart Review: Major Transport Projects Governance and Assurance Review, 18 June 2025 39 Q 55 14 relevant Secretary of State, advised by a new decision panel involving the Treasury, NISTA and Cabinet Office officials, itself informed by independent assurance.40
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 19 January 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗