Government's management of major projects examined

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• Inquiry: The Government's management of major projects
• Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Investigating government budgets set for projects

In this session the Committee will hear from Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, a leading expert on the subject, responsible for developing the ‘Iron Law of megaprojects'. His research highlights a consistent tendency for such projects (which are worth £1 billion or more) to significantly exceed their initial budgets, take longer to complete than anticipated, and to underdeliver the promised benefits.

The Government's Major Projects Portfolio currently has 133 projects with a total value of £423 billion. This includes high profile infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, HS2 and Hinkley Point but also major Government ICT projects, projects to transform public services, and major defence procurement programmes. In addition, individual departments manage numerous capital projects outside the Major Projects Portfolio.

Purpose of session

In this session, the Committee will question Professor Flyvbjerg on his ‘Iron Law', whether projects from other jurisdictions might hold lessons for the UK Government, and the importance of good governance processes to major project development, management, and evaluation.

Witness

Monday 26 November 2018, Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster

At 4.30pm

• Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, BT Professor of Megaprojects, Said Business School, Oxford

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
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