Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria her Department uses when deciding whether a major transport project should be added to the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.

The Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), including which projects and programmes are included, is managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The criteria for GMPP projects are typically those where approval is required from HM Treasury (HMT), either because the budget exceeds the department’s delegated authority level and/or because the project is novel, complex, contentious, or requires primary legislation. The department engages with NISTA on a monthly basis to ensure that the correct projects and programmes are added to the GMPP.

NISTA is currently undergoing a review of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, which currently comprises over 200 projects, programmes and portfolios. It is expected that it will significantly reduce the number of major projects that the centre of government actively supports.