Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answers by Lord Livermore on 13 March (HL Deb cols 812–13), who leads the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; and what is its remit.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) is currently led by Nick Smallwood. Nick Smallwood will be stepping down at the end of March 2025.

The IPA works across Government to support the successful delivery of all types of major projects, ranging from railways, roads, schools, hospitals and housing, to energy, telecommunications, defence, IT and major transformation programmes. The IPA’s Mandate can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infrastructure-and-projects-authority-mandate.

On the 1 April 2025, the functions of the IPA will be taken over by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which will combine the functions of the IPA and the National Infrastructure Commission. NISTA will be led by Jean-Christophe Gray until a permanent CEO is appointed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answers by Lord Livermore on 13 March (HL Deb cols 813–14), who sits on the British Infrastructure Taskforce; and what are its terms of reference.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Meetings of the British Infrastructure Taskforce are convened by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to help boost investment in infrastructure and drive growth nationwide. The Taskforce is attended by some of the UK’s largest financial services companies.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) is the government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects. The IPA leads the project delivery and project finance professions across government. The IPA supports the successful delivery of all types of major projects; ranging from railways, schools, hospitals and housing, to defence, IT and major transformation programmes. These functions, along with those of the National Infrastructure Commission, will move to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) on 1 April 2025.

NISTA will bring oversight of strategy and delivery into one organisation, developing and implementing our ten-year infrastructure strategy in conjunction with industry, while driving more effective delivery of infrastructure across the country. Alongside existing assurance mechanisms, NISTA will have an enhanced role in supporting major projects, including validating business cases prior to HM Treasury funding approval.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the British Infrastructure Taskforce and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority interact and ensure that government infrastructure projects (1) are delivered on time, and (2) provide value for money.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Meetings of the British Infrastructure Taskforce are convened by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to help boost investment in infrastructure and drive growth nationwide. The Taskforce is attended by some of the UK’s largest financial services companies.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) is the government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects. The IPA leads the project delivery and project finance professions across government. The IPA supports the successful delivery of all types of major projects; ranging from railways, schools, hospitals and housing, to defence, IT and major transformation programmes. These functions, along with those of the National Infrastructure Commission, will move to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) on 1 April 2025.

NISTA will bring oversight of strategy and delivery into one organisation, developing and implementing our ten-year infrastructure strategy in conjunction with industry, while driving more effective delivery of infrastructure across the country. Alongside existing assurance mechanisms, NISTA will have an enhanced role in supporting major projects, including validating business cases prior to HM Treasury funding approval.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to find departing members of (1) NHS England, and (2) the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), roles elsewhere in the public sector; and what plans they have to prevent departing members from these organisations from taking retirement packages and then gaining re-employment in NHS England or DHSC.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead this transformation. As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the pension arrangements for departing workers from (1) NHS England, and (2) the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); and what plans they have to limit the cost of such pensions in any restructuring of NHS England or DHSC.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Employees have different pension arrangements depending on the length of service and the terms and conditions of employment. Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead this transformation. As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

There may be some short-term upfront costs as we undertake these changes, but these costs and more will be recouped in future years because of a smaller, leaner centre.

Found: Schedule 3 BARONESS NEVILLE-ROLFE BARONESS NOAKES LORD VAUX OF HARROWDEN _ Schedule 3, page 190,

Found: Schedule 3 BARONESS NEVILLE-ROLFE BARONESS NOAKES LORD VAUX OF HARROWDEN ★_ Schedule 3, page 190,