Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
NISTA and Treasury express confidence in new body's substantial resources and capacity.
Recommendation
We asked NISTA how it was going to ensure it has the necessary resources and capacity to deliver its scope. NISTA told us it is confident it can resource the six objectives through its staff of over 200, and also has access to the 18,000 project delivery professionals across government.46 The Treasury told us that including NISTA’s 200 staff is a substantial increase to the Treasury’s 2,000 staff, and that it envisages some efficiency in bringing organisations together. As a result, the Treasury said it was confident it had the resources needed for NISTA “to do a really great job.” 47
Government Response Summary
The Treasury will strengthen departmental skills by tying higher Delegated Authority Limits to upholding standards, requiring accredited project professionals and senior specialists on project boards, and ensuring SROs have the right experience and support.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4. PAC conclusion: NISTA still has work to do to ensure that it gains assurance about progress with all major projects and that they are governed and assured effectively. 4. PAC recommendation: In its Treasury Minute response, the Treasury should set out what it and NISTA will be doing to improve governance and assurance of all major projects in the future - particularly at a Departmental level - to ensure oversight boards have the relevant skills mix, including what system-wide interventions it is planning to make. 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 9 4.2 NISTA currently arranges and manages independent assurance reviews that provide recommendations on the readiness of individual projects to progress to the next stage. These also help identify thematic or common issues facing major projects and support the development of system level interventions or the development of guidance – for example the recent publication Improving Governance (for their website members) sets out the common challenges facing major projects and offers practical advice to address these, including strengthening oversight boards. NISTA is also refining its data management processes to make this analysis more systematic in future. Following recent developments, including publication of the Teal Book, 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, OVFM and Stewart recommendations, NISTA will be reviewing and consulting on the assurance framework holistically to address these. Further information on next steps will be available once this review is complete to address these. Further information on next steps will be available once this review is complete. 4.3 The Treasury will strengthen the capability and skills of departments to govern and assure major projects by tying higher Delegated Authority Limits to departments upholding and evidencing compliance with standards. Working through the finance, commercial, digital and project delivery functions, the Treasury will require departments and ALBs to ensure that project and portfolio boards include accredited project professionals and senior specialists, and that SROs have the right experience and support.