Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
NISTA's remit encompasses service transformation, supporting eligible projects with experienced teams.
Recommendation
NISTA’s remit covers service transformation and so we asked NISTA about its role with transformation projects. NISTA told us it has an experienced team in transformation and digital projects and said that if a project meets the requirements to be part of the GMPP it will get the relevant support.48
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and plans to outline milestones for NISTA's strategic objectives by Summer 2026, including resource allocation and focus on priority areas like digital and transformation projects.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5a. PAC recommendation: NISTA should outline milestones for achieving its strategic objectives, including how it will allocate its resources to deliver its objectives, and ensure it retains a focus on priority areas such as digital and transformation projects. 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2026 5.2 NISTA was launched earlier this year to bring together the strategic expertise of the National Infrastructure Commission and the project delivery expertise of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, creating a new single centre of expertise in relation to the planning for and delivery of major government projects and programmes. NISTA is a joint unit of HM Treasury and Cabinet Office, it will play a crucial role in advising ministers on major projects and infrastructure and will support departments in the planning, development and delivery phases of major projects in the contexts of defence, infrastructure and service transformation. Alongside this advisory role, it will set standards and improve the government’s project capabilities, by continuing to develop guidance and tools, delivering leadership and learning programmes, and effectively communicating lessons learned in relation to both best practice and challenges experienced across the government portfolio. 5.3 Drawing on the principles set out in the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, NISTA will progress strategic thinking in relation to social infrastructure needs and spatial planning at a national level. In relation to the Government Major Projects Portfolio, and in some other distinct instances, NISTA will continue to facilitate independent assurance reviews, as well as providing a route to specialist support. NISTA will seek to draw in industry expertise and best practice in the UK and internationally in delivering its remit, as well as making appropriate use of the Expert Advisory Chair and Membership to inform and critically challenge work as it is progressed.