Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 October 2026 on the National School of Government and Public Services, HCWS410, what contingency arrangements are in place if the National School is not ready to take over delivery of contracted services by April 2028.

The National School of Government and Public Services is committed to reducing reliance on large professional learning services organisations. A detailed transition plan is under development to increase internal design and delivery and reduce expenditure on external providers over time. The School is working with our current training providers on exit and transition plans, whilst also increasing internal capacity to design and deliver. Where the School still requires access to specialist and technical external partners, from 2028 a new commercial model will provide the ability to contract directly to a range of specialist, small and medium-size UK organisations. This change is managed by effective governance and programme management, which includes contingency planning should plans and timetables change.