Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Include assessment of technology delivery timescales and risks in priority progress reports.
Conclusion
A well-run innovation programme always carries with it the risk of failure, but government has yet to define what failure is tolerable overall before its net zero objectives are jeopardised. We recognise that innovation involves a degree of risk and that a successful innovation portfolio will include both failures as well as breakthroughs. DESNZ, with other government departments, have yet to define what level of failure it could tolerate across the Framework, instead placing reliance on risk management by departments at the individual programme level. Each funding programme will have a business case including an assessment of risk. DESNZ says it has set a risk appetite for these sort of activities – ranging from medium to very high. However, the Innovation Framework does not include a clear assessment of risk against each of the priority technology areas. Recommendation 6: In reporting on progress on the priority technologies, government should include its assessment of which technologies are likely to deliver within the timescales required and those it regards as higher risk.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will develop an overall risk appetite statement by Spring 2024, and its upcoming progress update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan will include an assessment of technology progress and timescales.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. consider risk appetite and tolerance for programmes in the current net zero R&I portfolio as set out in the Delivery Plan and develop an overall government risk appetite statement by Spring 2024. This Innovation Delivery Board will regularly monitor progress of the portfolio at each of its meetings. DESNZ intends to publish a progress update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan ahead of the next Spending Review. This will include a view on the progress and timescales for the development of different technologies.