3.13 The government has recognised that the approval process does not always prevent departments from becoming locked into solutions too early. The Authority introduced project validation reviews - one-day workshops to assess projects before they progress to HM Treasury approval. Forty-nine such reviews have been carried out since 2013. However, as the projects reviewed are at an early stage we cannot say how effective the reviews are. For instance, the process did not exist at a time to allow e-Borders or High Speed 2 to have such a review, but future options for the Sellafield contract and for the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme have had reviews.
3.14 The Prime Minister wrote to departments on 21 May 2015 highlighting the need for better initial planning of major projects before ministers announce delivery dates. He tasked the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury with developing a pre-announcement deliverability assessment process, building on existing HM Treasury spending processes. This new process is not yet in place.