Recommendations & Conclusions
18 items
1
Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted in Part
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy after coronavirus, addressing regional inequalities and facilitating adaptation to climate change are welcome. However, the Government is yet to articulate the detail on how it will achieve those objectives.
Read more
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy after coronavirus, addressing regional inequalities and facilitating adaptation to climate change are welcome. However, the Government is yet to articulate the detail on how it will achieve those objectives.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating they will not publish a single delivery plan but will articulate details through existing publications like the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and forthcoming documents such as the Levelling Up White Paper, Integrated Rail Plan, Union Connectivity Review, and EV charging infrastructure …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
2
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted in Part
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the 10 months since the strategy’s publication. To assess whether and how the strategy requires revision, the Government must examine whether the major transport projects in the strategy will still …
Read more
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the 10 months since the strategy’s publication. To assess whether and how the strategy requires revision, the Government must examine whether the major transport projects in the strategy will still deliver their intended strategic benefits and the Government’s policy objectives, particularly in the context of declining public transport usage, higher levels of home-working and resulting shifts in travel patterns. (Paragraph 10) Levelling up
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating there is not enough evidence to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS) at this stage. However, they commit to individual projects assessing and addressing changes, working with the NIC to understand long-term effects, and ensuring business cases consider various demand …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
3
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted
To allow Parliament and the public to judge the effectiveness of the Government’s infrastructure plans, the Government must publish detailed metrics that define and measure the “levelling up” concept.
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and commits to setting out a clear definition for 'levelling up' and its implications for infrastructure in the upcoming Levelling Up White Paper. They also note the publication of Spending Review priority outcomes and metrics, which include measures for the …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
4
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted
We are concerned that the Department did not explain how the construction of major transport infrastructure projects can support the “levelling up” policy agenda. We would be reassured if the Department were to set out a worked example illustrating how investment in major transport infrastructure projects drives growth and productivity. …
Read more
We are concerned that the Department did not explain how the construction of major transport infrastructure projects can support the “levelling up” policy agenda. We would be reassured if the Department were to set out a worked example illustrating how investment in major transport infrastructure projects drives growth and productivity. (Paragraph 20) Appraisal
Show less
Government response AI summary
The Government accepts the recommendation and will publish several case studies in 2022, including an assessment of Manchester's Metrolink, to illustrate how major transport investments drive growth and productivity for the levelling up agenda.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
5
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted
The Government must utilise accurate, sensitive analytical tools to ensure that the projects that best support connectivity, growth and productivity are the ones that get built. In that context, benefit-cost ratios are useful, but they fail to capture regional inequalities and environmental and social factors. The Government must replace benefit-cost …
Read more
The Government must utilise accurate, sensitive analytical tools to ensure that the projects that best support connectivity, growth and productivity are the ones that get built. In that context, benefit-cost ratios are useful, but they fail to capture regional inequalities and environmental and social factors. The Government must replace benefit-cost ratios with a “benefit-cost plus” system, which not only takes account of costs and benefits and therefore ensures value for money for the taxpayer, but captures regional inequalities and environmental and social factors.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating their existing Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) already provides for comprehensive assessment of economic, social, and environmental impacts beyond just benefit-cost ratios. They are further reviewing guidance in light of new Green Book annexes on place-based analysis and transformational impacts …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
6
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted in Part
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering realities of delivering major infrastructure projects, the Government should establish floors and ceilings for project costs and timescales defining the range within which projects are scheduled for delivery rather than setting single specific targets, which …
Read more
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering realities of delivering major infrastructure projects, the Government should establish floors and ceilings for project costs and timescales defining the range within which projects are scheduled for delivery rather than setting single specific targets, which are invariably unhelpful and inaccurate. Any breach of a project’s cost and/or time ceilings should be communicated to the appropriate Select Committee by a formal mechanism, which should trigger intense parliamentary scrutiny to protect the public purse and to support effective project delivery. (Paragraph 35) 20 Major transport infrastructure projects
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to use cost and schedule ranges for projects, stating this is already implemented for many ongoing projects. However, they reject establishing a formal trigger mechanism for parliamentary scrutiny, deeming it duplicative and complicating existing processes.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
7
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted in Part
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or delivery date. Senior management of those Government agencies were apparently unaccountable for such overruns. Senior management of Government agencies with ultimate responsibility for project delivery must be incentivised to avoid cost and/or time overruns. The …
Read more
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or delivery date. Senior management of those Government agencies were apparently unaccountable for such overruns. Senior management of Government agencies with ultimate responsibility for project delivery must be incentivised to avoid cost and/or time overruns. The senior management of Government agencies with responsibility for delivering major infrastructure projects should be subject to a formal duty immediately to notify the relevant Select Committee in cases in which cost and/or time ceilings will be exceeded. (Paragraph 36) Delivery
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, agreeing with the principle of incentivising senior management to avoid overruns and stating existing systems provide clear accountabilities and performance objectives. However, they reject implementing a formal duty for senior management to notify Select Committees of overruns, citing existing 6-monthly reporting …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
8
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Deferred
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK has the skills to deliver the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. A detailed skills strategy is required. As part of the refresh of the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, the Department must develop a future skills plan …
Read more
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK has the skills to deliver the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. A detailed skills strategy is required. As part of the refresh of the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, the Department must develop a future skills plan in consultation with public and private sector employers to identify and address skills gaps that might delay major projects. Such a strategy should be accompanied by a financial commitment from the Government aimed at addressing specific skills gaps, such as in transport engineering and project management, through apprenticeships and training programmes.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts, stating the discussion paper will inform a 'potentially' refreshed skills strategy, and they will establish an industry-led Taskforce to drive this work and make recommendations. They will also work with DfE and DWP to increase uptake in currently available apprenticeships and …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
9
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Accepted in Part
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and (c) economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, the Government must publish by 25 November 2021 a delivery plan setting out how its transport infrastructure commitments will be implemented to …
Read more
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and (c) economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, the Government must publish by 25 November 2021 a delivery plan setting out how its transport infrastructure commitments will be implemented to support the National Infrastructure Strategy. (Paragraph 53) Major transport infrastructure projects 21
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, declining to publish a single delivery plan by the specified date. Instead, they will disseminate details through existing publications like the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and forthcoming documents such as the Levelling Up White Paper, Integrated Rail Plan, Union Connectivity Review, and …
Read full response →
Department for Transport
1
Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy after coronavirus, addressing regional inequalities and facilitating adaptation to climate change are welcome. However, the Government is yet to articulate the detail on how it will achieve those objectives.
Read more
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy after coronavirus, addressing regional inequalities and facilitating adaptation to climate change are welcome. However, the Government is yet to articulate the detail on how it will achieve those objectives.
Show less
Department for Transport
2
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the 10 months since the strategy’s publication. To assess whether and how the strategy requires revision, the Government must examine whether the major transport projects in the strategy will still …
Read more
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in the 10 months since the strategy’s publication. To assess whether and how the strategy requires revision, the Government must examine whether the major transport projects in the strategy will still deliver their intended strategic benefits and the Government’s policy objectives, particularly in the context of declining public transport usage, higher levels of home-working and resulting shifts in travel patterns. (Paragraph 10) Levelling up
Show less
Department for Transport
3
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
To allow Parliament and the public to judge the effectiveness of the Government’s infrastructure plans, the Government must publish detailed metrics that define and measure the “levelling up” concept.
Department for Transport
4
Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
We are concerned that the Department did not explain how the construction of major transport infrastructure projects can support the “levelling up” policy agenda. We would be reassured if the Department were to set out a worked example illustrating how investment in major transport infrastructure projects drives growth and productivity. …
Read more
We are concerned that the Department did not explain how the construction of major transport infrastructure projects can support the “levelling up” policy agenda. We would be reassured if the Department were to set out a worked example illustrating how investment in major transport infrastructure projects drives growth and productivity. (Paragraph 20) Appraisal
Show less
Department for Transport
5
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
The Government must utilise accurate, sensitive analytical tools to ensure that the projects that best support connectivity, growth and productivity are the ones that get built. In that context, benefit-cost ratios are useful, but they fail to capture regional inequalities and environmental and social factors. The Government must replace benefit-cost …
Read more
The Government must utilise accurate, sensitive analytical tools to ensure that the projects that best support connectivity, growth and productivity are the ones that get built. In that context, benefit-cost ratios are useful, but they fail to capture regional inequalities and environmental and social factors. The Government must replace benefit-cost ratios with a “benefit-cost plus” system, which not only takes account of costs and benefits and therefore ensures value for money for the taxpayer, but captures regional inequalities and environmental and social factors.
Show less
Department for Transport
6
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering realities of delivering major infrastructure projects, the Government should establish floors and ceilings for project costs and timescales defining the range within which projects are scheduled for delivery rather than setting single specific targets, which …
Read more
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering realities of delivering major infrastructure projects, the Government should establish floors and ceilings for project costs and timescales defining the range within which projects are scheduled for delivery rather than setting single specific targets, which are invariably unhelpful and inaccurate. Any breach of a project’s cost and/or time ceilings should be communicated to the appropriate Select Committee by a formal mechanism, which should trigger intense parliamentary scrutiny to protect the public purse and to support effective project delivery. (Paragraph 35) 20 Major transport infrastructure projects
Show less
Department for Transport
7
Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or delivery date. Senior management of those Government agencies were apparently unaccountable for such overruns. Senior management of Government agencies with ultimate responsibility for project delivery must be incentivised to avoid cost and/or time overruns. The …
Read more
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or delivery date. Senior management of those Government agencies were apparently unaccountable for such overruns. Senior management of Government agencies with ultimate responsibility for project delivery must be incentivised to avoid cost and/or time overruns. The senior management of Government agencies with responsibility for delivering major infrastructure projects should be subject to a formal duty immediately to notify the relevant Select Committee in cases in which cost and/or time ceilings will be exceeded. (Paragraph 36) Delivery
Show less
Department for Transport
8
Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK has the skills to deliver the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. A detailed skills strategy is required. As part of the refresh of the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, the Department must develop a future skills plan …
Read more
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK has the skills to deliver the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. A detailed skills strategy is required. As part of the refresh of the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, the Department must develop a future skills plan in consultation with public and private sector employers to identify and address skills gaps that might delay major projects. Such a strategy should be accompanied by a financial commitment from the Government aimed at addressing specific skills gaps, such as in transport engineering and project management, through apprenticeships and training programmes.
Show less
Department for Transport
9
Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport infrast…
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and (c) economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, the Government must publish by 25 November 2021 a delivery plan setting out how its transport infrastructure commitments will be implemented to …
Read more
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and (c) economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, the Government must publish by 25 November 2021 a delivery plan setting out how its transport infrastructure commitments will be implemented to support the National Infrastructure Strategy. (Paragraph 53) Major transport infrastructure projects 21
Show less
Department for Transport