Scottish Government Could Learn Lessons from UK Audit Report on Major Infrastructure Projects
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Chris has called for stronger governance and accountability across government major projects, warning that past failures cannot be repeated.
A new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report highlights serious risks in the way large and complex schemes are managed. While the Committee welcomes Treasury plans to take more responsibility for the country’s biggest “mega-projects”, it warns that too many programmes still fall outside this tighter oversight.
At present, only three projects — HS2, the Sizewell C nuclear power station, and the Dreadnought submarine programme — qualify as mega-projects, despite there being more than 200 schemes in the government’s major portfolio. The Committee warns that leaving so many outside this framework risks repeating mistakes seen in the past.
Chris commented:
“This report is a clear reminder that governments cannot afford to cut corners on governance. Unrealistic budgets, premature announcements, and weak oversight have plagued too many projects in the past. The UK Government is right to have put more rigours checks in place for mega projects, it now needs to ensure more projects are classified as such.”
The PAC report makes a series of recommendations, including:
- Clearer governance: feasibility studies must be completed before budgets or timelines are announced.
- Broader definitions: strategically vital projects should be included in enhanced scrutiny, not only those costing over £10bn.
- Joined-up oversight: governance must align with wider government “missions” and local priorities.
- Independent accountability: robust mechanisms must be in place to hold departments and delivery bodies to account.
Chris said these lessons apply in Scotland as well as Westminster:
“As the only Scottish MP on the PAC, I have often remarked in the committee that the lessons from the audit functions in each of the home nations could and should learn much more from each other in order that we don’t all repeat the same mistakes.”
“Here in Scotland, we’ve seen exactly what happens when lessons on large infrastructure projects are ignored. The repeated delays on the A9 dualling, delivering new ferries, and the uncertainty around the National Care Service all stem from poor planning and weak accountability. There are many lessons from this report relevant to both the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that major projects are managed with the discipline, transparency, and accountability the public deserves.”
The PAC warns that if governance failures are not addressed, the UK risks wasting money, delaying delivery, and undermining public trust in government. Stronger systems of accountability, and wider application of mega-project oversight, are seen as essential to avoid past mistakes.
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