3.24 The Government will introduce greater objective challenge to the specification of requirements and budget cost estimates by improved early stage intervention, through the new Integrated Assurance and Approvals Process (IAAP) process.
3.25 Through central assurance and approvals processes the Government will promote the use of outcome based specifications and processes that will encourage innovation and remove unnecessary prescription.
3.26 Infrastructure UK and the Efficiency and Reform Group will review the capability and infrastructure data requirements required to improve effectiveness of local and central Government challenge functions in support of setting and achieving acceptable performance and cost outcomes (See Component F for details). An initial review of benchmarking capability across central Government has already been undertaken by the Efficiency and Reform Group in the Cabinet Office.
3.27 Infrastructure UK will work with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and with industry in drawing together groups of sector experts to identify and reduce duplication, redundancy and inconsistency of standards, based on a cost benefit analysis of existing standards, ensuring that operating performance and safety are not compromised. The Government will report on progress and make further recommendations by Budget 2012. This will be piloted initially in the roads and rail sectors and the terms of reference will include:
• the establishment of a transparent basis for cost-benefit assessment of standards and clear targets for reducing the number of standards; and
• implementing measures to ensure that standards bodies are properly integrated and incentivised to consider the implication of existing and new standards on costs and outcomes.