Questions to Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, on HS2 and the Major Projects Authority report . Written answers given on 16th May. From Hansard.
Steve Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department’s selection criteria under the Major Project Authority applied to the Department for Transport’s High Speed 2 proposals; and which such criteria applied. [107453]
Mr Maude: The Major Projects Authority’s definition of a Major Project is “a central Government funded project or programme that requires HM Treasury approval during its life, as set out in Delegated Authority letters”.
This definition is set out in the MPA’s assurance and approval guidance, available online at:
High Speed 2 falls within this definition as it requires HMT approval, as set out in Delegated Authority letters between HM Treasury and the Department for Transport.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which individuals produced the Major Projects Authority’s report on the Department for Transport’s HS2 proposals; and what their areas of expertise were. [107539]
Mr Maude: All three individuals on the HS2 review team were independent of the project. They were accredited reviewers, experienced in infrastructure, transport and complex project delivery.
We do not make public names of individual reviewers.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which projects reviewed by the Major Projects Authority have been (a) terminated and (b) re-scoped as a result. [107207]
Mr Maude: The Major Projects Authority (MPA) was set up to address the situation we saw in the past when huge amounts of taxpayers’ money was squandered on projects that failed to stick to budget or time.
The authority supports Departments to improve the outcome of Government’s major projects to assure value for money for the taxpayer and better services for users. The final responsibility and accountability for delivery of major projects rests with Departments.
The MPA reviewed around 180 major, projects last year. Two projects have since been terminated, and one project’s core contract has been terminated. Many reviews included recommendations which required a degree of re-scoping. This is an indication that the MPA is working effectively.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which projects reviewed by the Major Projects Authority have been classified as (a) green, (b) amber/green, (c) amber, (d) amber/red and (e) red. [107540]
Mr Maude: The Major Projects Authority will publish an annual report by the summer, in which some further information will be included on each project.