Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his article in the Financial Times, published on 25 November 2020, what recent steps he has taken to build greater in-house project management expertise.

The Foreign Secretary recently approved a pilot to inform decisions to bring services in-house where this will deliver improved outcomes and cost savings for HMG, drawing on the HM Treasury and Cabinet Office Outsourcing Playbook. My officials are working with HMT to establish an operating cost framework for future years which delivers value for money for the UK taxpayer and builds in-house capability. FCDO will introduce a new approach to programme management from April, building on previous experience in DFID and FCO and best practice from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, with accompanying training to support staff in implementing the new approach.