Investing in infrastructure is a key element of the Government's growth strategy. The Government will strengthen the mandate of Infrastructure UK (IUK) and increase its commercial expertise to boost the delivery of growth enhancing infrastructure projects across Government. As part of this new role, IUK, together with an enhanced Major Projects Authority, will undertake a detailed assessment of Whitehall's ability to deliver infrastructure, building on their existing work. This assessment will be completed by Budget 2013. To ensure the assessment is as thorough as possible, it will be led by Paul Deighton as his first duty as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury working closely with the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
The Cabinet Office is also introducing a number of reforms to address shortcomings in broader commercial skills across Government, this includes:
• a five year capabilities plan for the whole of Civil Service is planned to indentify which skills and capabilities are in deficit and how these gaps will be filled; and
• the Major Projects Leadership Academy has recently been established to train senior leaders in the delivery of major projects. In future only project leaders who have successfully completed this programme will be able to lead a major government project.