Lack of programme management skills is jeopardising the success of major government IT projects, according to the influential Public Accounts Committee of MPs.

More than half of the Senior Responsible Owners (SRO) taking overall responsibility for delivery of major technology schemes have no previous experience in the role and nearly half spend less than a fifth of their time on SRO-related tasks.

There is also a disconnect between the delivery of projects and the political business of the department: 21 per cent of SROs had not met with their minister, and another 28 per cent met them less than once every three months.

Government IT programmes can be successful, but they need board-level involvement and on-going commitment from top-level officials, says PAC chairman Edward Leigh.

'Not all major government IT projects end up on the rocks, as the successful payment modernisation programme and pension credit have shown,' said Leigh.

'It is certainly no good putting someone in charge of the programme who lacks the experience and skills to get the best out of external contractors and stays in post only as long as it takes to get another civil service position.

'The appointment of the official in charge must be on the basis that he or she is committed to staying the course and that performance and reward are linked to agreed targets and milestones,' he said.