A list that's not been 'capital'

So far, so good. The proposal, placed before committee presidents and now out for public exposure, has kicked a dozen projects down the road, and more than likely sidelined half a dozen more at least until 2025.

There will be contentious argument in some areas, primarily over the prioritisation of secondary education changes at the expense of the continued modernisation of the hospital. We don’t yet know P&R’s rationale for the move, but suspect it may be driven by two things – the still-burning desire to get secondary education operating and off the political agenda, or the eye-watering increased costs now predicted for the work at the PEH.

We are reminded that the committee had lined up some £583m. of capital spending to be achieved over a four-year period (at pre cost-of-living crisis prices). That was never likely to be achieved and seems even more ridiculous now.

For a government which had the stated aim of ‘getting things done’, capital projects are a good demonstration of realising that ambition. So far it’s not been a success.

It’s not politically popular to cut back on capital spending, but more realistic projections make financial and practical sense.