Speeches by Green.

“To turn to the governance and management of the different interdependencies, paragraph 18 of the NAO Report states: “Inadequate governance of interdependencies is still hindering clusters’ planning for the value for money and delivery of shared services”. I would like to understand how you are managing your five interd…”

“Are you confident that, if the equivalent of the problems with the ATS presented again, it would be caught sooner and addressed faster?”

“If there is a problem, what is the route to a decision?”

“I have a question for Mr Bisson, to understand why the Government do not see Northern Powerhouse Rail as a mega-project. Looking at figure 7 on page 28, it presents most of the characteristics of a mega-project as defined by the Government, so why has this not been designated as such?”

“But that is a “TBC”: it is an ongoing live conversation. If I turn it on its head, given that you are on the record, what are the risks of not being designated as a mega-project?”

“You have mentioned that it is a programme that will take us into the 2040s. Forgive me, but how will you set it up in such a way that it will survive multiple Parliaments?”

“I am aware that we are pushed for time. May I ask if the Committee can have a note on how that is going to work in practice and how it has been working? The Committee has a real interest in making sure that we do not add additional costs on projects like this.”

“I want to ask the permanent secretary about the nature restoration fund. What impact will it have on large infrastructure projects for which the Department is responsible?”

“I am interested in the Thames crossing example that you just gave. I am keen to understand how it will work in practice. I have in mind the bat tunnel. HS2 was really clear that it felt that the nature and biodiversity requirements obligated it to come up with a solution such as a bat tunnel. How will we make sure that…”

“On that, does that mean we are changing the requirements for biodiversity in nature?”

“I welcome today’s debate and congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Vikki Slade) on securing it. I too wish to focus on the experience of those navigating the medical licence renewal process, but I begin by acknowledging that the DVLA is aware of its shortcomings in that area. When the c…”

“Thank you. When this first came to light for our Committee, it raised real issues of accountability to Parliament, this Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General. Permanent Secretary, have you given any thought to how the MOD would secure parliamentary budgetary approval if a similar situation occurred—not a da…”

“No offence taken, Chair. Returning to the impact of the super-injunction: Permanent Secretary, what impact did the super-injunction itself have on the Department’s understating of the potential Afghan compensation and resettlement costs?”

“So it was not treated differently?”

“Not at all.”

“It is not lost information.”

“Is that not currently happening?”

“Just to follow up on what you are saying, paragraph 4.8 says that the NAO was told that “if the police look into a potential fraud and decide not to pursue a case criminally, there are no clear mechanisms for other parts of the MoD to continue looking at a case to see if non-criminal routes would be appropriate.” Can y…”

“I want to move us on to triage and how the allegations are triaged at the moment. At the end of paragraph 4.7 of the NAO Report, it states, “different teams are not aware of the criteria or thresholds different parts of the MoD use when deciding to pursue or prioritise a case.” I am keen to understand—this is a questio…”

“How many regional teams are there? You said you do it by area.”