More accurate data needed for decisions on major schemes

The Scottish government and parliament should be given better information before key decisions are made over whether major public construction projects should go ahead.

That is the conclusion of Audit Scotland’s Review of major capital projects in Scotland report, which states that those involved in making decisions on major projects need clearer and more accurate information about costs, value for money and timescales for projects.

The study - the first systematic review of major public sector capital projects in Scotland - looked at 43 projects completed between April 2002 and March 2007.

It found that the lack of accurate information resulted in only two-fifths of the projects being completed within cost estimates -a third were completed on time.

However, following contracts awarded, two-thirds of the projects reviewed were completed on time or within 10% of the total forecast time.

Robert Black, auditor general for Scotland, said: “Current and planned major capital works in Scotland make up a large programme by any standards, and it requires the Scottish government to make very important choices about which projects should go ahead.

"Good decisions can only be made if there is accurate and robust information about the likely costs, benefits and timescales of projects.”