Major transport infrastructure projects: appraisal and delivery

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Dec 2020 Closed: 14 Nov 2022 Parliament page
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 … Read more
13 Recommendations
5 Conclusions
2 Reports
3 Oral sessions
2 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
24 Jan
2022
Report published
29 Sep
2021
Report published
29 Sep
2021
Report published
7 Sep
2021
Correspondence
7 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
30 Jun
2021
Correspondence
12 May
2021
Oral evidence
17 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
7 Jul 2021
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Nick Joyce · Department for Transport Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP · Ministry of Defence
12 May 2021
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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
17 Mar 2021
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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
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
18 results
1 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Major transport in…
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 strategy.
Department for Transport
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2 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Major transport in…
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 scenarios.
Department for Transport
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3 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Major transport in…
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
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 Department for Transport's performance in this area.
Department for Transport
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Major transport in…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Department for Transport
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Major transport in…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 to support these goals.
Department for Transport
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6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Major transport in…
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Department for Transport
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7 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Major transport in…
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 for parliamentary scrutiny.
Department for Transport
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8 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Major transport in…
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 training programs, but do not commit to a new financial investment.
Department for Transport
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Major transport in…
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving...
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy.
Department for Transport
View details
1 Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport in…
Subject to devolved responsibilities, the National Infrastructure Strategy’s top-level objectives of supporting the UK economy...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
2 Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport in…
The Government may need to amend the National Infrastructure Strategy to account for the evolution...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
3 Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport in…
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.
Department for Transport
View details
4 Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport in…
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
5 Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport in…
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
6 Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport in…
To facilitate transparent, honest and constructive public and political engagement with the economic and engineering...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
7 Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport in…
Government agencies have repeatedly delivered major transport infrastructure projects that exceeded the specified cost and/or...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
8 Conclusion
Second Report - Major transport in…
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
9 Recommendation
Second Report - Major transport in…
To ensure that the National Infrastructure Strategy supports (a) the “levelling up” agenda, (b) achieving...
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 … Read more
Department for Transport
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 9 of 13 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 5
Deferred 1
Total 13 recs + 5 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
7 Sep 2021 Correspondence from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of Transport, relating to Major transport infrastructure projects: appraisal and delivery, dated 26 July 2021
Parliament page
30 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Elliot Shaw, Executive Director, Strategy and Planning, Highways England, relating to major transport projects
Parliament page