Introduction
PSAs are at the centre of the Government's performance
measurement system. They are usually three year agreements, set
during the spending review process and negotiated between
departments and the Treasury. They set objectives for the priority
areas of government's work.
This PSA is led by the Cabinet Office with data provided by the
Department of Health, the Department for Children, Schools and
Families and the Ministry of Justice.
Each PSA has a Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) who is
responsible for maintaining a sound system of control that supports
the achievement of the PSA. The underlying data systems are an
important element in this framework of control.
The purpose and scope of this review
The Government invited the Comptroller and Auditor General to
validate the data systems used by government to monitor and report
its performance.
During the period September 2009 to March 2010, the National
Audit Office (NAO) carried out an examination of the data systems
for all the indicators used to report performance against this PSA.
This involved a detailed review of the processes and controls
governing:
- The match between the indicators selected to measure
performance and the PSA. The indicators should address all
key elements of performance referred to in the PSA;
- The match between indicators and their data systems. The
data system should produce data that allow the Department to
accurately measure the relevant element of performance;
- For each indicator, the selection, collection, processing and
analysis of data. Control procedures should mitigate all
known significant risks to data reliability. In addition,
system processes and controls should be adequately documented to
support consistent application over time; and
- The reporting of results. Outturn data should be presented
fairly for all key aspects of performance referred to in the
target. Any significant limitations should be disclosed and
the implications for interpreting progress explained.
Our conclusions are summarised in the form of traffic lights.
The ratings are based on the extent to which departments have:
- put in place and operated internal controls over the data
systems that are effective and proportionate to the risks involved;
and
- explained clearly any limitations in the quality of its data
systems to Parliament and the public.
The remaining sections of this report provide an overview of the
results of our assessment, followed by a brief description of the
findings and conclusions for each individual data system.
Our assessment does not provide a conclusion on the accuracy of
the outturn figures included in the Department’s public performance
statements. This is because the existence of sound data systems
reduces but does not eliminate the possibility of error in reported
data.
June 2010