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| Transport Dept plan 'incompetent' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A "stupendously incompetent" government efficiency drive designed to save £57m has left taxpayers with an £81m bill, a report by MPs says. | |
| The Department for Transport scheme aimed to cut administration costs by basing payroll, finance and personnel services all on one site in Swansea. | The Department for Transport scheme aimed to cut administration costs by basing payroll, finance and personnel services all on one site in Swansea. |
| But the public accounts committee said it had started late, had not been fully introduced and was set to make losses. | |
| The computer system had even issued messages in German, the MPs added. | |
| Edward Leigh, the committee's Conservative chairman, said it was one of the worst cases of "project management" the committee had ever seen. | Edward Leigh, the committee's Conservative chairman, said it was one of the worst cases of "project management" the committee had ever seen. |
| In some cases the service is worse than that previously provided Edward Leigh, Commons Public Accounts Committee chairman | |
| "The department knew that it was pushing things with such a tight timetable but, without robust challenge to such a risky strategy, ploughed on confidently," he added. | |
| "The result was lamentable. The underlying computer system was inadequately procured and tested, resulting in an unstable set-up when it was switched on," he added. | "The result was lamentable. The underlying computer system was inadequately procured and tested, resulting in an unstable set-up when it was switched on," he added. |
| The programme was supposed to be in place by April this year, but currently only two of the department's seven agencies were using the new system, he said. | The programme was supposed to be in place by April this year, but currently only two of the department's seven agencies were using the new system, he said. |
| "In some cases the service is worse than that previously provided," he said. | "In some cases the service is worse than that previously provided," he said. |
| 'No dismissals' | 'No dismissals' |
| In its report, the committee said: "Despite the extent of mismanagement in this case, no individuals have been dismissed or properly held to account." | In its report, the committee said: "Despite the extent of mismanagement in this case, no individuals have been dismissed or properly held to account." |
| Mr Leigh called on the department to work to deliver a functioning, trustworthy and beneficial system. | Mr Leigh called on the department to work to deliver a functioning, trustworthy and beneficial system. |
| The shared services centre in Swansea was originally forecast to cost £55m and lead to £112m of savings - a benefit of £57m. | The shared services centre in Swansea was originally forecast to cost £55m and lead to £112m of savings - a benefit of £57m. |
| But the department now estimates the programme will cost £121m and save £40m, meaning taxpayers will have to make up the £81m difference. | But the department now estimates the programme will cost £121m and save £40m, meaning taxpayers will have to make up the £81m difference. |