Delivery report reveals threat to flagship infrastructure projects One in six major government projects are in need of "urgent remedial action," including flagship policies such as its Universal Credit welfare reform, the HS2 rail line and the rollout of high-speed broadband. The report by the Major Projects Authority is the first to be released by the government watchdog, set up in 2011 to improve the pace and delivery of public infrastructure projects. Universal Credit, which will roll six existing benefits into a single payment, was among 31 projects that have been assessed as amber/red or red, according to a government audit of 191 major projects, worth a collective £350bn. The government had previously denied its welfare reform was off-track. An official said amber or red status was a signal that "ministers and officials need to take urgent remedial action." The construction of two new aircraft carriers was also singled out in this category. Francis Maude, cabinet office minister, said the MPA had helped shave £1.7bn off the multibillion pound bill for the projects. He said: "A tradition of Whitehall secrecy is being overturned. And while previous governments buried problems under the carpet, we are striving to be more open. The dense and detailed report was published late in the afternoon just before the start of the bank holiday weekend. Cabinet Office sources said the number of projects with "green" status had doubled since the coalition came to power. But given the size and complexity of many of the schemes, it was unsurprising that not all had yet earned a clean bill of health, they said. Insiders also argued that, in publishing internal ratings for projects, the government was showing its commitment to transparency. Mr Maude admitted there was "much more to do" to improve delivery given that just 32 out of 191 projects were running to plan, according to ratings assigned to projects last September. The Department for Work and Pensions said the rating for Universal Credit reflected "where the project was eight months ago rather than now." Since that assessment, a pilot "pathfinder" scheme had been successfully launched and David Pitchford, who chairs the MPA, had taken charge of the scheme following the death of Philip Langsdale, the department's chief information officer. Mr Pitchford had put in place "a strengthened plan and leadership team. We are on course to begin the national rollout of Universal Credit in October 2013," he said. Howard Shiplee, director of construction for the Olympic Delivery Authority, had now taken over from Mr Pitchford in overseeing the delivery of Universal Credit, added the department. However, the rating will add to a growing body of evidence that the programme has not progressed at the pace that ministers envisaged. Four "pathfinders" were originally expected to launch at the end of April: only one did so, with the remainder postponed until July. Liam Byrne, shadow welfare secretary, said: "Universal Credit is now officially in crisis. Ministers can't hide the truth any longer and sneaking out the news at the last minute before a bank holiday won't get them off the hook. Lord Browne, the government's lead non-executive director and a member of the Cabinet Office's efficiency and reform group, is pressing the government to hire talent from outside the civil service - and pay them commercial salaries - to improve the delivery of projects. Industry has been disappointed by the coalition's efforts to accelerate billions of pounds of investment into road, energy, homes, schools, housing and waste projects as a means of lifting the economy.