Select Committee · Transport Committee

Major transport infrastructure projects: appraisal and delivery

Status: Closed Opened: 4 Dec 2020 Closed: 14 Nov 2022 13 recommendations 5 conclusions 2 reports

Billions of pounds of investment has been committed during 2020 to the UK’s transport infrastructure. This inquiry will consider: transport infrastructure strategy and priorities; the appraisal and funding of transport infrastructure; oversight, accountability and governance of transport infrastructure projects; factors influencing the cost and capacity and skills required to deliver the infrastructure plans. The extent … Show more

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Major transport infrastructure projects HC 24 29 Sep 2021 9 Overdue
Second Report - Major transport infrastructure projects HC 24 29 Sep 2021 9 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
3 Recommendation Second Report - Major transport infrast… Accepted

To allow Parliament and the public to judge the effectiveness of the Government’s infrastructure plans,...

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 …
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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...

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

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.
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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...

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

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 …
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
7 Jul 2021 Nick Joyce · Department for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP · Ministry of Defence View ↗
12 May 2021 Alistair Baldwin · Institute for Government, Elliot Shaw · Highways England, Graham Richards · Office of Rail and Road, Jon Loveday · NISTA, Mrs Ruth Humphrey · Siemens, Nick Smallwood · Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Simon Statham · Midlands Connect View ↗
17 Mar 2021 Bridget Rosewell CBE · National Infrastructure Commission, James Heath · National Infrastructure Commission, Jonathan Spruce · Institution for Civil Engineers, The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede, Tony Meggs CB · Crossrail Ltd View ↗

Who gave evidence

14 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alistair Baldwin · Author Institute for Government 1
Bridget Rosewell CBE · Commissioner National Infrastructure Commission 1
Elliot Shaw · Executive Director for Strategy and Planning Highways England 1
Graham Richards · Director of Planning Office of Rail and Road 1
James Heath National Infrastructure Commission 1
Jon Loveday · Director of Infrastructure, Enterprise and Growth NISTA 1
Jonathan Spruce · Fellow Institution for Civil Engineers 1
Mrs Ruth Humphrey · Head of Business Development and Strategy Siemens 1
Nick Joyce · Director General, Corporate Delivery Group Department for Transport 1
Nick Smallwood · CEO Infrastructure and Projects Authority 1
Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP · Secretary of State Ministry of Defence 1
Simon Statham · Chief Technical Officer Midlands Connect 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede 1
Tony Meggs CB · ex-Chairman Crossrail Ltd 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Sep 2021 Correspondence from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of Transport, relating to Major …
30 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Elliot Shaw, Executive Director, Strategy and Planning, Hig…