THE massive underspending which has characterised Works Branch budgets for the past two years is a thing of the past following the introduction of better control procedures, Secretary of Works James Blake said yesterday.
Speaking at his branch's annual review, Mr Blake said: ''Spending this year will be very close to the amount set in the budget estimates,'' although he refused to be drawn on how much might be left unspent.
Instead he said it was up to ''the Financial Secretary to give the facts and figures'' in the next few weeks.
But he said there had been a dramatic improvement, compared with the $7.4 billion underspending of 1991-92 and $4.7 billion in 1992-93, as a result of new management systems introduced after consultants carried out a review of the Works Branch last year.
Mr Blake said the consultants identified short and long-term objectives which had led to the creation of a Works Branch project action team to review high impact schemes and identify specific problem areas including land availability, environmental impact and political issues, that could cause delays.
There has also been better co-ordination with the Finance Branch to ensure money was available once the go-ahead was given.
The public works progress committee has also been revamped under the direct control of Mr Blake to establish priorities and resources.