Oral Answers to Questions

Felicity Buchan Excerpts

Thursday 27th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Chloe Smith]

That is not the right question, because Mr Sabisky was a contractor.

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

12. What steps his Department is taking to ensure value for money in infrastructure investment.

[Chris Loder (West Dorset) (Con)]

16. What steps his Department is taking to ensure value for money in infrastructure investment.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt)]

The Government are committed to delivering value for money, including from the additional £100 billion of investment in infrastructure that we have recently announced. That means that spending will not just be narrowly focused on where it brings the highest immediate economic return; it will also be focused on where it may unlock productive potential in the future.

[Felicity Buchan]

In London, under the stewardship of Transport for London and the Mayor of London, Crossrail is £2.5 billion over budget and two and a half years behind schedule. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that those mistakes are not made elsewhere in the country?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I know that this is a frustration for my hon. Friend’s constituents. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has worked with the Department for Transport and across Government to identify and implement the key lessons to be learned from such major projects, and the IPA provides challenge that is fair and accurate, through an independent assurance review of major Government projects.