The Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit of the DWP’s Social Fund White Paper Account for 2012-13 has revealed substantial improvements in many areas over which he had previously expressed concerns.
This report highlights the key financial results that the C&AG judges to be important to the interpretation of the audited financial statements with respect to the underlying activities and timescales involved.
We recommended that the Department for Communities and Local Government improve its evaluation of the impact of funding changes on local authorities’ financial sustainability.
This NAO impacts case study represents one example where there has been some beneficial change, whether financial or non-financial, resulting from our involvement.
There is a lack of transparency, consistency and accountability in the use of compromise agreements in the public sector and little is being done to change this.
The government now accepts the urgent need for a skilled cross-departmental leadership group – but this requires changing the long-standing culture of the Senior Civil Service.
Stronger financial management will be needed in departments if they are to speed up the restructuring of service delivery.
We estimate that the MOD made £253 million of savings on inventory purchases in 2012 as a result of our recommendations.
This NAO impacts case study represents one example where there has been some beneficial change, whether financial or non-financial, resulting from our involvement.
Benefits are expected to exceed costs slightly over the life of the systems, but there is uncertainty around whether the benefits will be realised
Tobacco smuggling is a significant threat to tax revenues. HMRC’s renewed strategy sets out the right measures but the Department’s performance is disappointing.
Thameslink aims to reduce overcrowding and journey times. Initial progress has been good but a 3 year delay in awarding the train contract puts the 2018 programme deadline at risk.
The file contains all of the impacts of £5,000 or more which contribute to the overall total financial impacts claimed by the NAO of £1,186 million for 2012.
Financial impacts represent our estimate of the financial benefits achieved following implementation of the NAO’s recommendations to government.
Estimates are subject to internal quality assurance review, are agreed with senior management of the audited bodies and are independently validated by our external auditors.
There is broad agreement that Tamiflu reduces the length of illness, but the consensus breaks down on whether it prevents serious complications and deaths.
The strategic case for HS2, in terms of increasing rail capacity and generating regional growth, has still to be demonstrated clearly.
The relocation took place on time and without disruption to broadcasts and should be within budget. But it is too early to judge value for money for licence fee payers.
The MOD acted promptly to revert to the decision to buy the vertical take-off version of the Joint Strike Fighter but will have to manage significant risks.
The NAO has prepared this briefing for the Justice Select Committee in support of its inquiry into women offenders. The briefing looks specifically at the new funding arrangements for women’s centres in the community, which have been funded partly by the Ministry of Justice, the National Offender Management Service, and partly by probation trusts since 2009.
This factsheet provides further details on recent developments, including the introduction of grouped internal audit services and the adoption of new internal audit standards by central government
The Institute of Internal Auditors and the NAO released a set of case studies illustrating some of the key principles of effective internal auditing, taken from a range of public and private sector organisations (including British Telecom, Department for Work and Pensions, EDF etc).
The Equitable Life payment scheme runs the risk of failing to meet payment targets and over-running on costs.
(If you think you may be entitled to a payment, please contact The Equitable Life Payment Scheme or call 0300 0200 150)
ERG has contributed significantly to departmental savings in 2011-12 but substantial and sustainable new savings streams will be needed to achieve £20bn of savings in 2014-15.