came out with— but the national audit office came out with a — but the national audit office camece came out with a report not long - but the national audit office came out with a report not long ago - but the national audit office came i out with a report not long ago which suggested _ out with a report not long ago which suggested a — outwith a report not long ago which suggested a few— out with a report not long ago which suggested a few of— out with a report not long ago which suggested a few of them. _ out with a report not long ago which suggested a few of them. one - out with a report not long ago which suggested a few of them. one was. suggested a few of them. one was that quite — suggested a few of them. one was that quite simply, _ suggested a few of them. one was that quite simply, estimates - suggested a few of them. one was that quite simply, estimates in - suggested a few of them. one wasj that quite simply, estimates in the early— that quite simply, estimates in the early stages — that quite simply, estimates in the early stages were _ that quite simply, estimates i

because of that, in the words of the national audit office...e are two reasons for rising costs. the third is that the plan for hs2 has changed. not least the number of panels. after local opposition in the chilterns, more of h52 opposition in the chilterns, more of hs2 is underground than originally planned. that has cost a lot more. there is one more reason to highlight. inflation. it has gone up sharply since 2021. that makes everything more expensive. including materials, wages, and equipment. put all of those factors together, we start to explain why the original estimate of hs2 cost was not remotely realistic. let's go back to manchester. chris mason is there. we await this decision on hsz, there. we await this decision on hs2, chris. the home secretary meanwhile grabs the attention. the whole h52 meanwhile grabs the attention. tue: whole hsz decision meanwhile grabs the attention. tte: whole hsz decision feels meanwhile grabs the attention. t"t2 whole hsz decision feels like meanwhile grabs the attention. tt2 whole hsz decision feels like

delays, cancellations and lengthy track closures are now regular complaints, leading germany's national audit officed a deal to sell its international transport business arriva group to miami—based infrastructure investor i squared capital. live now to gregor kolbe, train and travel spokesperson for the federation of german consumer organisations. i warm welcome. how bad is it? very good, thank you. so i warm welcome. how bad is it? very good, thank you.— very good, thank you. so how bad is it, _ very good, thank you. so how bad is it, tell— very good, thank you. so how bad is it, tell us, _ very good, thank you. so how bad is it, tell us, the - very good, thank you. so how bad is it, tell us, the service l bad is it, tell us, the service provided. 50 bad is it, tell us, the service provided-— bad is it, tell us, the service provided. so we have a lot of problems _ provided. so we have a lot of problems in _ provided. so we have a lot of problems in germany - provided. so we have a lot of problems in germany right i provided. so we have a lot of. problems in germany right now. as you mentioned. the

say there's been a national shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the national audit offices looking at a practical way to address a national backlog and get local government audits up to date in barking and dagenham, we have draft accounts awaiting audit and we look fonnard to working with the national government to get these accounts published as soon as possible . now, nottingham city possible. now, nottingham city council still hasn't got back to us yet , but hopefully they will us yet, but hopefully they will soon. and if and when they do , soon. and if and when they do, we will let you know . we will let you know. >> so and it's important so many people , isn't it, to know where people, isn't it, to know where their money is being spent. >> a lot of money so expensive isn't it? >> it's a lot of money. it's crazy, actually. >> now, let's talk to the head of the campaigns taxpayers of the campaigns from taxpayers alliance, kirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers all now. 1, kirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. good kirk, joins of the campaigns from tax

there has been a national shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the national audit officeal government audits up to date in barking and dagenham , we have a draft dagenham, we have a draft accounts awaiting audit and we look fonnard to working with the national government to get accounts published as soon as possible . and then nottingham possible. and then nottingham city council hasn't yet got back to us, but we will let you know as and when they do, well , let's as and when they do, well, let's speak now to the head of campaigns at the taxpayers alliance, elliot keck and councillor marion jenkins of mere green ward in sutton coldfield. >> first we'll turn to you, taxpayers alliance. mr this this is an absolute scandal, really, isn't it? it begs the question, where is all the money gone and why are councils claiming to be potless and not even bothering to file their accounts ? well, absolutely. >> and local government is now responsible for around £110 billion of spending of taxpayers money every year, whether that's from business rates, council tax or government grants