3 This report draws on our experience of auditing major programmes across different parts of government and at different stages over many years. Our work has directly supported Parliamentary scrutiny of government programmes and provides an independent evidence base to inform the public about how government programmes are performing.
4 Our previous reports on major programmes can be found on our website (https://www.nao.org.uk/search/pi_area/managing-major-projects/). Examples of reports we reviewed for this output include:
• Improving Broadband (October 2020).
• Carrier Strike: Preparing for deployment (June 2020).
• Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme (April 2020).
• The Equipment Plan 2019 to 2029 (February 2020), and its predecessor reports.
• High Speed Two: A progress update (January 2020).
• Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear regulated sites (January 2020).
• Transforming Courts and Tribunals - a progress update (September 2019).
• Progress delivering the Emergency Services Network (May 2019).
• Completing Crossrail (May 2019).
• Rolling out smart meters (November 2018).
• Update on the Thameslink Programme (November 2017).
• The new generation electronic monitoring programme (July 2017).
• Universal Credit: progress update (November 2014).
• Managing risk reduction at Sellafield (November 2012).
5 It also draws on our wider experience and understanding of major government programmes, and on publications where we have previously brought together what we have learned in different ways and for different audiences. For example, we have produced:
• Over-optimism in government projects (December 2013).
• Assurance for major projects (May 2012).
• Lessons from major rail infrastructure programmes (October 2014).
• Delivering Major Projects in Government: a briefing for the Committee of Public Accounts.
• Framework to review major programmes (April 2019).
• The DECA: Understanding challenges in delivering project objectives (October 2013).
• Welfare reform - Lessons Learned (May 2015).
• Lessons for major service transformation (May 2015).
• NAO Guide: Initiating successful projects (December 2011).
• Survival guide to challenging costs in major projects (June 2018).
6 We also use:
• information published by government, for example, guidance on how to initiate and manage major programmes;
• evidence provided to Parliament, for example written ministerial statements or oral or written evidence provided to select committees; and
• public reports of Parliamentary select committees, particularly those of the Committee of Public Accounts from sessions based on our reports.