Gareth Davies, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO), will argue the government could save vast sums if it addresses maintenance backlogs and replaces out-of-date IT.
In his annual speech, Davies will call for a new approach to megaprojects such as HS2 and the new hospitals building programme to prevent costs running out of control.
His assessment comes as the Conservatives and Labour look for cost savings and ways to reform Whitehall in advance of the election, with little other headroom available within tight, self-imposed fiscal rules.
Davies, the NAO auditor general, will warn the next government faces "a tough challenge in the years ahead" as he outlines the difficulties facing public services.
But he will claim "smarter" government can still provide people with better public services despite the challenging fiscal backdrop.
"Parts of our national infrastructure are crumbling. Maintenance backlogs persist across the public estate, impeding service delivery and costing more over time," Davies will say.
Esta historia es de la edición January 16, 2023 de The Guardian.
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