Road cash
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THE BRITISH Road Federation is pressurising the Department of Transport to provide more information on whether its budgets for individual major road projects are being underor over-spent.
In 1983/4 the DTp came close to the cash limit which the Government set, but large deviations on specific road projects occurred which were concealed within the overall figure, according to the BRF. "MPs and the public have a right to know the story behind the figures," claims the federation in a representation to the Department.
The BRF's recommendations to the DTp to aid more information on major projects are: • For schemes where more than £5m is budgeted, the Department should report back with estimates of actual expenditure the following year (Nine major schemes costing a total of £121.4m in 1983/4 were not reported on, says the BRF.) • Any changes to the estimated total cost of the project should be made clear.
• Any change to the estimated year of completion of the project should be clearly stated. Of 25 major projects in 1983/4, seven were a year late in finishing and one was two years late and the starting dates of five contracts were delayed by a year).