HS2 Ltd and the Department of Transport have missed out on a Civil Service 2012 award – after MP Cheryl Gillan this morning wondered ‘how on earth’ they could have been shortlisted in the first place.

They had been in the running for the award for their ‘analysis and use of evidence' – despite the fact that hundreds of responses to the HS2 consultation failed to be taken into account due to “technical errors.”

The award went to Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice, for its work in collating data concerning the August 2011 riots and those involved in them, it was announced today.

This morning Mrs Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, tweeted: “How on earth can the civil service awards shortlist for the use of evidence and analysis include HS2 Ltd #despair”

Earlier this year she wrote to Transport Secretary Norman Baker asking for a fresh consultation to take place, branding the original one as “shoddy”.

News that HS2 Ltd and the Department of Transport had been shortlisted for the award came in September, the day after Mr Baker said further errors in the consultation process had been identified since July, when it was announced that more than 400 responses had not been examined by analysts Dialogue by Design.

He added that these responses would not have made a difference to the overall result of the consultation.

Stop HS2 Campaign Co-ordinator Joe Rukin said at the time: "I’d say this is straight out of ‘The Thick of It’, but in reality the only award HS2 Ltd should be in line for is the G4S onmishambles award.

“When I was first told and asked to comment on this I couldn’t stop laughing. The day after HS2 Ltd and the DfT have to admit the failed to analyse not the first, but the second set of evidence from the consultation, they are shortlisted for an award honouring their analysis of evidence?"

The award "recognises excellence in the way knowledge is managed" to improve decision making, influence policy and improve services, according to the Civil Service Live Network.