Press Release - Joint Targets
14 October 2005
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office reported today
that joint targets, and the joint working needed to achieve them,
can help to improve the delivery of government objectives.
Departments often need to work across organisational boundaries to
work most effectively. But achieving joint targets can present
particular challenges, especially in the international arena.
Setting objectives and priorities, and developing a common
understanding between each department about how success can be best
achieved is not straightforward. The NAO report, which focuses on a
number of key targets in the field of international development,
found that the level of detailed analysis of the factors which
influence success, the number of formal joint plans, and the degree
of change in working practices to accompany these joint targets
varied between Departments. It also identifies characteristics of
effective joint working with relevance to the achievement of joint
targets more generally.
20% of the government’s targets for 2005-08 are shared between
more than one Department. This is an increase on the 10% of
previous rounds. This reflects an increasing recognition that the
complex challenges facing government need to be met by united
action. Joint targets bring a shared understanding between
departments and, particularly in the international field, signal
the UK’s intent and commitment.
Progress against the targets examined has been mixed. In
December 2004, Departments reported on eight aspects of
performance: progress was ‘on course’ for five; on one ‘slippage’
had occurred; and in two it was ‘too early to say’. The report also
found that there was inconsistent reporting of progress against the
targets. For example, on debt relief for the period of 2001-04 one
Department reported the target had been met whilst another reported
‘slippage’ against the same target.
The NAO found some areas for improvement. Many of the targets
examined were not supported by a detailed joint examination of the
causes and factors which would lead to the desired outcomes. Plans
generally did not set out the programme and administrative
resources to be used and improvements were needed in the monitoring
of resource use to ensure consistency across Departments. While
joint targets have stimulated greater co-operation, those examined
have not lead to a significant change in working arrangements.
In some cases, the targets themselves could have been better
defined. The target for the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals is very broad, encompassing almost any action the
United Kingdom might want to take to contribute to achieving the
Goals. By comparison, the target for debt relief was narrowly
defined. Success is defined in terms of countries’ progress within
the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative although progress
could be achieved without realising a permanent exit from
unsustainable debt.
Sir John Bourn said today:
“Relieving poverty and preventing conflict are not the
kind of things that can be done by one arm of government working on
its own. These challenges demand involvement and co-operation from
many parts of government. Joint targets are a sensible first step
towards this. But if joint targets are going to work as effectively
as possible, both in the international arena and elsewhere, more
attention should be paid to how they are designed, planned and
resourced.”
Notes for Editors
- The NAO report focused on four joint targets in the
international field. These related to conflict prevention and
management; the receipt of debt relief by Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries; progress towards the United Nations 2015 Millennium
Development Goals; and reducing trade barriers. The Departments
formally responsible for the delivery of one or more of these
targets are the Department for International Development, HM
Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of
Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence.
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the
head of the National Audit Office which employs some 800 staff. He
and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 53/05
All enquiries to Mark Strathdene, NAO Press Office: Tel: 020 7798
7183
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