Delivering Major Projects in Government inquiry

We have supported the Major Projects Authority’s efforts to improve project delivery in government and recognise the steps it has taken to strengthen project assurance, improve transparency, and introduce project leadership training. But it is disappointing that after nearly 5 years we cannot see more tangible signs of what impact these initiatives have had. Moreover, there are still big challenges ahead. The Major Projects Authority rated 34% of the government’s major projects as either ‘red’ or ‘amber-red’ at June 2015, meaning that successful delivery is unachievable or in doubt unless action is taken. For the projects due to deliver in the next 5 years, 35% are rated as red or amber-red. In this demanding environment, it is important that there is a body within government which challenges departments about their plans and implementation of projects. We are concerned that the merger of the Major Projects Authority and Infrastructure UK risks the new body (the Infrastructure and Projects Authority) becoming too much of a champion for government projects, at the expense of its vital role in challenging government performance.