News

OGC discloses Gateway reviews on ID card scheme

Released on 19/03/2009

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has today published two Gateway reviews into the ID cards programme following a decision made by the Information Tribunal on the 19th February.

Introduced in 2001 as a mandatory tool for central Government, OGC GatewayT reviews have made a real contribution to the successful delivery of public services and to date over 2,000 reviews have been completed. The OGC GatewayT process provides a valuable, independent perspective on issues facing the internal team managing the project or programme reviewed, and an external challenge to the robustness of plans and processes.

Last year, 96% of those responsible for Government's largest programmes and projects surveyed revealed the reviews already had a positive impact in their department's plans to achieve a successful outcome.

Reviews are conducted on a confidential basis and this confidentiality allows interviewees to speak frankly and openly to reviewers about any problems facing the project or programme. It is felt that general disclosure of key Gateway information would undermine its effectiveness, and the Ministry of Justice's Working Assumption looks to balance the interests of transparency with safeguarding the integrity of the process. However, OGC accepts the Information Tribunal's decision that the exceptional nature of the public interest in the ID cards programme, combined with the age of the reports in question, is such that these specific reports should be disclosed, without affecting the Ministry of Justice's Working Assumption which will continue to govern OGC's approach to the disclosure of Gateway Reports under FOI.

Speaking about the disclosure Nigel Smith, chief executive of the OGC said:

"The Information Tribunal has concluded that neither they nor the Information Commissioner believe all Gateway reviews should be disclosed.  OGC's approach to FOI will continue to aim to safeguard the interests of transparency whilst maintaining the integrity of the Gateway process. Our commitment to transparency and public accountability is evident in the emphasis we have placed on publishing the results of a wide range of OGC activities, such as the Procurement Capability Reviews and delivery plans on sustainable procurement and operations on the Government estate.

"Gateway Reviews provide a valuable mechanism to ensure that taxpayers' money is being used to deliver projects and programmes to time, quality and cost, and realise benefits. We have also recently enhanced the process and introduced delivery confidence assessments to improve the way the reviews assess the health of a project or programme.  Gateway Reviews on their own cannot guarantee successful delivery; but they form one very effective part of an overall assurance framework which is proving very successful in improving delivery confidence."

Notes to editors

To access the Gateway Reviews see OGC website.

To access MOJ Gateway Working Assumption visit: http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/foi-assumptions-gateway-reviews.htm

About the FOI request

In January 2005 OGC received the following request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

The two pre-stage zero and the actual stage zero Gateway reviews of the Identity Cards Programme project being run by Home Office.

OGC disclosed some of the background information contained within the two Gateway 0 Reviews concerned (June 2003 and January 2004).  The remaining information was considered to be exempt from disclosure under the Act.  However, following referral to the Information Commissioner, and subsequently to the Information Tribunal and the High Court, the Information Tribunal ruled on 19th February 2009 that the reports should be disclosed.  Ministers have agreed that OGC will accordingly release the information to the requester on 19th March, and will simultaneously publish the information on its website.

About the OGC GatewayT Process

The OGC GatewayT Process examines programmes and projects at key decision points in their lifecycle. It looks ahead to provide assurance that they can progress successfully to the next stage. The process is best practice in central civil government, the health sector, local government and defence.
 
OGC GatewayT Reviews are applicable to a wide range of programmes and projects including:

• policy development and implementation; 
• organisational change and other change initiatives; 
• acquisition programmes and projects; 
• property/construction developments; 
• IT enabled business change; 
• and procurements using or establishing framework arrangements.

OGC GatewayT Reviews deliver a "peer review" in which independent practitioners from outside the programme or project use their experience and expertise to examine the progress and likelihood of successful delivery of the programme or project.  The review uses a series of interviews, documentation reviews and the teams experience to provide valuable additional perspective on the issues facing the project team, and an external challenge to the robustness of plans and processes.

The review is conducted on a confidential basis for the senior responsible owner and relevant department which are accountable for the implementation of the recommended remedial action. This confidentiality allows interviewees to speak frankly and openly to reviewers about any problems facing the project or programme.

Before each Gateway review the SRO of a project / programme will complete a 'Risk Potential Assessment' (RPA). The RPA takes into account a wide range of factors including life costs, potential benefits, potential impact on the organisation carrying out the project / the public etc. This will then give an indicative risk level for the project at the time of the review (this can change over the course of the gateway sequence). This risk level is then agreed between the SRO and the OGC.  

Gateway Reviews of high-level programmes and projects are carried out by OGC; but most central Government Departments now have delegated authority to carry out medium risk reviews on their own projects and programmes. However, Departments must provide the assurance of independence, by using reviewers from outside of the business area of the project or from other Government Departments. Departments are reviewed to ensure this compliance at least every three years but are subject to spot checks and liaison meetings with OGC staff at frequent points throughout each year.

About OGC

The OGC is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending.  The OGC works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals:

• Delivery of value for money from third party spend;      
• Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits;   
• Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate;   
• Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance;     
• Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs);     
• And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.

OGC provides policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, projects and estate management, and monitors and challenges departments' performance against these standards, grounded in an evidence base of information and assurance.  It promotes and fosters collaborative procurement across the public sector to deliver better value for money and better public services; and it provides innovative ways to develop Government's commercial and procurement capability, including leadership of the Government Procurement Service.

Contact details:
OGC Service Desk
Tel: 0845 000 4999
E-mail: ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk