The UK government must try and stop the Galileo satellite navigation programme from going ahead unless a rigorous cost-benefit analysis has been produced, say MPs.

Galileo is the proposed EU satellite navigation system which has cost UK taxpayers £97m to date.

A report published today by the Transport Select Committee recommends that no more money should be spent until the benefits have been assessed, said committee chairwoman Gwyneth Dunwoody, MP.

"This is an EU vanity project. What taxpayers in the UK and other European countries really need and want is better railways and roads, not giant signature projects in the sky," she said.

Only one of 30 satellites has been launched for the system, despite being due for completion in 2008.

Delays are the result of a failed public-private partnership which was set up to design and operate the network – largely because of a lack of corporate interest.

The government-commissioned cost-benefit analysis of the project being carried out by Esys will be completed next month - the first analysis of this type carried out for the government, despite a recommendation by the Transport Committee three years ago.