The National Audit Office is warning that a third of major government projects due to deliver in the next five years, including infrastructure and construction, are rated as being in doubt or unachievable if action is not taken to improve delivery.

In a new Report published this morning, MPs have sharply criticised the lack of focus in the Government’s Infrastructure Plan, saying that they are “not convinced that the current proposals represent a rigorous plan with clear priorities for action or with a clear programme for delivery.”

The UK Government has said that it is on target to make up to £3 billion of annual savings on infrastructure projects with the publication this morning of the first annual report of the three-year Infrastructure Cost Review programme.

The first year programme of work also included a commitment to address the problems of cyclicality in the water sector as part of a joint study with Ofwat.