Treasury Approvals Process for projects and programmes
HM Treasury guidance on the scrutiny and approval of projects and programmes in scope of the Treasury Approvals Process (TAP).
- From:
- HM Treasury
- Published
- 11 November 2016
- Last updated
-
181 April20242026 — See all updates
Documents
Treasury Approvals Process for projects and programmes
Ref: ISBN 978-1-917151-07-8
PDF, 383510 KB, 4136 pages
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Request an accessible format.
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Details
HM Treasury sets Delegated Authority Limits (DALs) for each department. It scrutinises and approves any project and programme spending that exceeds one or more of the relevant delegated limits. It also scrutinises expenditure that is novel, contentious or repercussive, or where there are specific requirements for Treasury approval, as set out in legislation or Managing Public Money (MPM). This is to ensure that all spending proposals demonstrate value for money, and comply with guidance and Parliamentary expectations regarding the use of public money. This guidance sets out the arrangements for the Treasury scrutiny and approval of all projects and programmes that are subject to the Treasury Approvals Process.
Updates to this page
Published 11 November 2016
Last updated 181 April 2024
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Update history
2026-04-01 14:00
The guidance has been updated to reflect reforms to the public spending control and accountability framework announced at Budget 2025, including a single integrated approval point in HM Treasury incorporating the expertise of central functions, reforms to the GMPP, and data sharing between departments and HM Treasury, including NISTA, and the central functions. It also incorporates new content on the scrutiny and approval of mega projects, the role of NISTA, and expectations on transparency and reporting after approval. The guidance has also been restructured to make it clearer and easier to navigate.
2024-04-18 10:00
Updated: Increased emphasis on the early scrutiny of spending proposals, with an explicit requirement for departments to secure Treasury approval of Strategic Outlines Cases for the most significant government projects. New flexibilities for Treasury to delegate approval of specific business cases to departments in certain circumstances. New guidance on how major project ‘resets’ interact with the Treasury Approvals Process. Various drafting clarifications, as well as updated references to the Magenta Book, fraud risk management and cross-government working
2022-11-18 13:30
New link to the Green Book and its collection of accompanying guidance and materials collection page to improve signposting.
2022-03-30 12:00
Updated for 2022
Documents
Treasury Approvals Process for projects and programmes
Ref: ISBN 978-1-917151-07-8
PDF, 383510 KB, 4136 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital.communications@hmtreasury.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
HM Treasury sets Delegated Authority Limits (DALs) for each department. It scrutinises and approves any project and programme spending that exceeds one or more of the relevant delegated limits. It also scrutinises expenditure that is novel, contentious or repercussive, or where there are specific requirements for Treasury approval, as set out in legislation or Managing Public Money (MPM). This is to ensure that all spending proposals demonstrate value for money, and comply with guidance and Parliamentary expectations regarding the use of public money. This guidance sets out the arrangements for the Treasury scrutiny and approval of all projects and programmes that are subject to the Treasury Approvals Process.
Updates to this page
Published 11 November 2016
Last updated 181 April 2024
+ show2026
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-04-01 14:00
The guidance has been updated to reflect reforms to the public spending control and accountability framework announced at Budget 2025, including a single integrated approval point in HM Treasury incorporating the expertise of central functions, reforms to the GMPP, and data sharing between departments and HM Treasury, including NISTA, and the central functions. It also incorporates new content on the scrutiny and approval of mega projects, the role of NISTA, and expectations on transparency and reporting after approval. The guidance has also been restructured to make it clearer and easier to navigate.
2024-04-18 10:00
Updated: Increased emphasis on the early scrutiny of spending proposals, with an explicit requirement for departments to secure Treasury approval of Strategic Outlines Cases for the most significant government projects. New flexibilities for Treasury to delegate approval of specific business cases to departments in certain circumstances. New guidance on how major project ‘resets’ interact with the Treasury Approvals Process. Various drafting clarifications, as well as updated references to the Magenta Book, fraud risk management and cross-government working
2022-11-18 13:30
New link to the Green Book and its collection of accompanying guidance and materials collection page to improve signposting.
2022-03-30 12:00
Updated for 2022
Details
HM Treasury sets Delegated Authority Limits (DALs) for each department. It scrutinises and approves any project and programme spending that exceeds one or more of the relevant delegated limits. It also scrutinises expenditure that is novel, contentious or repercussive, or where there are specific requirements for Treasury approval, as set out in legislation or Managing Public Money (MPM). This is to ensure that all spending proposals demonstrate value for money, and comply with guidance and Parliamentary expectations regarding the use of public money. This guidance sets out the arrangements for the Treasury scrutiny and approval of all projects and programmes that are subject to the Treasury Approvals Process.
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-04-01 14:00
The guidance has been updated to reflect reforms to the public spending control and accountability framework announced at Budget 2025, including a single integrated approval point in HM Treasury incorporating the expertise of central functions, reforms to the GMPP, and data sharing between departments and HM Treasury, including NISTA, and the central functions. It also incorporates new content on the scrutiny and approval of mega projects, the role of NISTA, and expectations on transparency and reporting after approval. The guidance has also been restructured to make it clearer and easier to navigate.
2024-04-18 10:00
Updated: Increased emphasis on the early scrutiny of spending proposals, with an explicit requirement for departments to secure Treasury approval of Strategic Outlines Cases for the most significant government projects. New flexibilities for Treasury to delegate approval of specific business cases to departments in certain circumstances. New guidance on how major project ‘resets’ interact with the Treasury Approvals Process. Various drafting clarifications, as well as updated references to the Magenta Book, fraud risk management and cross-government working
2022-11-18 13:30
New link to the Green Book and its collection of accompanying guidance and materials collection page to improve signposting.
2022-03-30 12:00
Updated for 2022