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Warnings over flagship projects Warnings over flagship government projects
(about 7 hours later)
More than 30 of the coalition's flagship schemes, including Universal Credit and the West Coast Main Line scheme, are at serious risk of failure, a government annual report has warned.More than 30 of the coalition's flagship schemes, including Universal Credit and the West Coast Main Line scheme, are at serious risk of failure, a government annual report has warned.
The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has given 32 projects a red or amber/red rating, meaning they are deemed unachievable or in doubt.The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has given 32 projects a red or amber/red rating, meaning they are deemed unachievable or in doubt.
Red projects include two £7bn aircraft carriers dogged by delays.Red projects include two £7bn aircraft carriers dogged by delays.
The Cabinet Office welcomed the report and said it would lead to improvements.The Cabinet Office welcomed the report and said it would lead to improvements.
The MPA was established in 2010 in a bid to turn around the civil service's "lamentable record" of delivering large schemes.The MPA was established in 2010 in a bid to turn around the civil service's "lamentable record" of delivering large schemes.
Its report warns that billions of pounds of public money could be at risk because of delays and inefficiencies in delivering key projects.Its report warns that billions of pounds of public money could be at risk because of delays and inefficiencies in delivering key projects.
Documents setting out the status of projects worth £350bn were released on Friday.Documents setting out the status of projects worth £350bn were released on Friday.
'Urgent action''Urgent action'
Eight red projects - meaning those deemed unachievable as a result of budget, schedule or delivery problems - include the West Coast Main Line scheme.Eight red projects - meaning those deemed unachievable as a result of budget, schedule or delivery problems - include the West Coast Main Line scheme.
In October, the government scrapped its decision to award the £5bn franchise to FirstGroup.In October, the government scrapped its decision to award the £5bn franchise to FirstGroup.
The mistakes in the West Coast process came to light after rival bidder Virgin Trains launched a legal challenge against the decision.The mistakes in the West Coast process came to light after rival bidder Virgin Trains launched a legal challenge against the decision.
Virgin will continue running the service until November 2014, when a new long-term franchise will begin.Virgin will continue running the service until November 2014, when a new long-term franchise will begin.
Some 23 schemes given an amber/red rating, meaning their successful delivery is in doubt and urgent action needs to be taken, include some of Work and Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan Smith's welfare reforms and the HS2 high-speed rail network.Some 23 schemes given an amber/red rating, meaning their successful delivery is in doubt and urgent action needs to be taken, include some of Work and Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan Smith's welfare reforms and the HS2 high-speed rail network.
Of 191 programmes assessed, 32 were given the green all-clear rating with 49 classed as amber/green.Of 191 programmes assessed, 32 were given the green all-clear rating with 49 classed as amber/green.
Some 58 were amber and 21 were exempt from ranking.Some 58 were amber and 21 were exempt from ranking.
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the MPA had helped to save more than £1.7bn.Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the MPA had helped to save more than £1.7bn.
He said that, when he came into government, there was "a relaxed approach to managing projects worth hundreds of billions of pounds" with problems "swept under the carpet where they festered at the taxpayers' expense".He said that, when he came into government, there was "a relaxed approach to managing projects worth hundreds of billions of pounds" with problems "swept under the carpet where they festered at the taxpayers' expense".
"Since the general election we have got things back on track and are equipping the civil servants with the skills they need," he said."Since the general election we have got things back on track and are equipping the civil servants with the skills they need," he said.
He added: "There's much more to do but thanks to the work of excellent officials we now expect to double the success rate of major projects, compared with the figures from 2010."He added: "There's much more to do but thanks to the work of excellent officials we now expect to double the success rate of major projects, compared with the figures from 2010."
But shadow Cabinet Office minister John Trickett said the report offered "yet more proof that David Cameron's government has no answers to the challenges facing this country"But shadow Cabinet Office minister John Trickett said the report offered "yet more proof that David Cameron's government has no answers to the challenges facing this country"
"The economy is flatlining, prices are going up faster than wages, almost one million young people are unemployed and there's a crisis in A&E - yet all David Cameron offers is failure and more of the same," he added."The economy is flatlining, prices are going up faster than wages, almost one million young people are unemployed and there's a crisis in A&E - yet all David Cameron offers is failure and more of the same," he added.
And Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "The fact that this report was quietly slipped out on a Friday evening will only add to suspicions that the government was trying to bury bad news.And Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "The fact that this report was quietly slipped out on a Friday evening will only add to suspicions that the government was trying to bury bad news.
"Alarm bells will now be ringing yet again for taxpayers over central government's ability to deliver value for money on some of its multi-billion pound projects.""Alarm bells will now be ringing yet again for taxpayers over central government's ability to deliver value for money on some of its multi-billion pound projects."