The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) is “back on a viable footing”, Money and Pensions Service (Maps) accounting officer, Oliver Morley, has said, although some "critical dependencies" for the programme and dashboards overall remain.

Sharing the latest assessment of pensions dashboards, Morley confirmed that, funding for the programme has been secured until March 2025, funding allocations for future years will be confirmed through the spending review and annual budget setting processes.

Morley acknowledged that the programme is managing a high degree of uncertainty in relation to its key cost drivers and assumptions, which include the volumes of people likely to use the service, charges for using the government’s identity solution, and commercial arrangements.

"Such uncertainty can lead to cost pressures and places great importance on effective financial controls," he continued, welcoming the "oversight and pragmatism shown by Department for Work and Pensions in holding Maps to account, and in helping Maps to address such issues in a timely and constructive manner.

He also confirmed that, subject to HM Treasury funding through the spending review process, and the continued support of DWP in assisting Maps to seek solutions to any financial pressures that may arise, the regularity test is met.

This was not the only financial consideration, as Morley confirmed that the PDP is still thought to provide value for money, with the central scenario in its cost-benefit analysis resulting in a net present social value of £260m and a positive benefit-cost ratio of 2.91.

Morley argued that industry support for the programme has also remained strong, stating: "Industry support has remained largely positive and supportive through reset, and the programme is investing in maintaining and developing those relationships further.

"More collaborative working with our main supplier has meant the pace, quality and value of delivery has improved."

Overall, Morley said that although resetting the programme and addressing the issues identified was a significant challenge, "substantial progress" has been made since.

He stated: "I have confidence that the team has the capability and capacity to be successful. While this remains a complex programme with a number of challenges and dependencies, I consider the feasibility test to be met.

"I am confident that the programme is back on a viable footing and, overall, I consider there to be a strong likelihood of PDP completing delivery on time."

However, he admitted that there are some "critical dependencies" for the programme and dashboards overall.

This includes: PDP successfully connecting volunteer participants; continuing cooperation with industry to manage the connection of providers and schemes; the quality of data held by the pensions industry, and the resilience of their systems and processes; working closely with the MoneyHelper dashboard project and other potential dashboard providers; PDP maintaining adequate levels of skilled resources; and continued support from DWP.

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