The Government did not budget for IT when costing the
2012
Olympic Games, a
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report has
revealed.
The
Public Accounts Committee's 39th report said that the Olympic
Delivery Authority failed to include £400m required for an IT
system for the planned Olympic Park.
In 2006 it was announced that the cost estimates had increased
by some £900m, which included the IT costs.
The report said, "In November 2006 the secretary of state
reported to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that overall the
cost estimates for the Olympic Park had increased by some £900
million.
"The increase included some £400 million for IT and site
mobilisation and the costs of the CLM Consortium, appointed by the
Olympic Delivery Authority as its Delivery Partner to assist in
project managing the delivery of the venues and infrastructure. The
original budget had used the costs of an urban development
corporation as a benchmark for the Olympic Delivery Authority's
running costs, with the result that these costs had been seriously
underestimated."
At the time of the PAC's examination in March this year, and 20
months after London was awarded the Games, there was still no final
budget in place. But on March 15, ten days after their hearing, the
secretary of state for culture, media and sport announced a new
total budget of £9b.