The Programme aims to save £21.5 billion, but the NAO’s report finds there is a lack of transparency over what has been achieved so far.

In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget publishes a scorecard of the US government’s progress on a special website, www.results.gov. The scorecard uses a ‘traffic light’ system similar to the Gateway Reviews undertaken by the UK’s Office of Government Commerce (OGC). However, the OGC keeps the results of Gateway Reviews confidential.

Mr Bacon said today: “The US government has recognised that secrecy is a contributing factor to project failures and has chosen to be honest and open with the public about how its major programmes are progressing. In contrast, the British government continues to act as if it has something to hide. With a similar system here, there would be more chance of bad projects being put back on track”.