DCLG on defensive after critical Gateway report

摘要

The DCLG has defended its handling of the multimillion-pound Thames Gateway regeneration project. A report by the public accounts committee claimed the Whitehall department was not up to the job of handling regeneration of the 40-mile stretch from Canary Wharf to the mouth of the River Thames. 'The department has not yet established the basic arrangements for controlling the programme including - incredibly - a budget,' said committee chairman, Edward Leigh. 'Crucial to the enterprise's success will be a full and co-ordinated contribution by Whitehall departments but, like a child clamouring for the attention of bigger classmates, it does not have the influence to make this happen.' But a DCLG spokesman said the report was 'already out-of-date'.