8.10 We note that projects in the past have been accepted into the Department's equipment and financial plan, without adequate consideration of their requirement, affordability and sequencing. This is what Bernard Gray referred to in his review as 'entryism'. By passing responsibility for proposing new equipment to the Commands, the incentive on their capability planners to bid low is much reduced: the budget holder would have to find resources for any subsequent growth within their agreed delegation. However, to maintain a focus on this well recognised practice, we welcome the steps the Department has taken to enhance governance of project initiation for the largest programmes, including through better costings (see Part 11) and recommend this endures in the new operating model. For smaller projects the Department should ensure that the process of central approval of project initiation is as light touch as possible.