18. The success of these long-term contracts depends critically on the effectiveness of the partnership between the department and the contractor. On the National Savings deal (40th Report, Session 1999-2000), National Savings and Siemens put in place a joint governance structure to help to ensure that the partnership worked as intended. This structure was used to manage both the wide range of issues involved in the day-to-day running of the contract and to maintain strategic commitment to the partnership at senior levels within both organisations.