Recommendations 7
7 accepted. 7 implemented.
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2023-24 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 12, paragraph 24, point a
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
Defra should: a) prioritise producing a long-term asset management strategy for the Weybridge site within the next year. This should clearly set out responsibilities of all stakeholders reflecting current programmes and future changes.
The strategy should be supported by underlying detailed asset management information
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 12, paragraph 24, point b
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
b) implement a system-level view of risk at the Weybridge site, with clear ownership and accountability. This will improve visibility across APHA, Defra Group Property and the Programme of the aggregate risk, so that the impact of decisions on all work and operations across the entire Weybridge site is understood by all.
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 12, paragraph 26, point c
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
c) monitor its progress in recruiting the right staff, and the impact of any headcount restrictions. Defra should acknowledge the impact that this risk will have on the Programme, including on costs and schedule. This should be
reflected in its reporting and submissions to the IPA and HM Treasury
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 12, paragraph 26, point d
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
d) demonstrate that it is continuing to learn lessons from across government and is using best commercial practice in integrating contracts and in aligning contractual incentives to reduce costs and deliver to schedule
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q1 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 12, paragraph 26, point e
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
e) ensure that science and digital transformation elements of the Programme are fully integrated within the Programme and defined before finalising construction contracts. This is so all requirements are included, to minimise the risk of changes and increased costs.
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 13, paragraph 27, point f
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
f) clearly express uncertainty in cost and schedule estimates, to help decision-making and avoid setting unrealistic expectations. Where possible costs and schedule should be presented as ranges, with a plan for how these
will reduce over time
Response: Accepted
· Delivery: implemented, Q4 2024-25 (confirmed by the NAO)
Addressed to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Page 13, paragraph 27, point g
Recommendation (the NAO's words)
g) set out robust estimates of the benefits of the Programme, to allow decision-makers to assess what can be delivered at what cost and the impact of any changes in scope. Defra needs to improve its understanding of benefits in advance of this, including on how both Defra and APHA will realise the benefits