Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Monitoring of net zero innovation still lacks defined outcomes and clear success measures.
Recommendation
DESNZ, with other departments, has started to establish a process for monitoring progress systematically across the Framework but it is still to define what outcomes it is seeking to deliver. We were told that the Net Zero Innovation Board is starting to run a series of “deep dives” on each category in the Framework and DESNZ is developing a set of indicators for measuring progress.42 Many of the proposed programme indicators are output-focused rather than outcome-focused, such as the number of projects and organisations supported, rather than the number of business opportunities created or the potential for reductions in carbon emissions. This reflects the output-focused commitments in the delivery plan. The Innovation Delivery Board, with DESNZ, had yet to specify what interim measures of success might look like.43
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that the Net Zero Innovation Board's sub-group will consider and agree challenge outcomes for the R&I portfolio by Spring 2024, moving beyond output-focused indicators.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2024 5.2 The Net Zero Innovation Board, through its Innovation Delivery Board sub-group, will consider challenge outcomes for the current government net zero R&I portfolio as set out in the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan and agree these by Spring 2024. 5.3 The Innovation Delivery Board will regularly monitor progress of the portfolio at each of its meetings. DESNZ intends to publish an update on the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan ahead of the next Spending Review. This will allow time for most of the current innovation programmes to complete and an initial assessment against intended outcomes to be considered.