Defra’s 2013-14 accounts have not been qualified but the C&AG warns of the likelihood of the European Commission’s imposing significant financial penalties on the department in future.
This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs 2012-13
Review of a sample of the data systems underpinning the input and impact indicators in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Business Plan, Common Areas of Spend and wider management information.
This review was carried out on the 2012-15 Business Plan. Revised Business Plans were issued in June 2013.
Farm oversight activity does not deliver value for money for the taxpayer and continues to burden compliant farmers unnecessarily.
The level of penalties imposed by the EC has gone down in 2012-13 to £20 million but this is largely caused by administrative delay in the Commission rather than improved compliance by Defra.
Review of a sample of the data systems underpinning the input and impact indicators in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Business Plan, Common Areas of Spend and wider management information.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, has published his audit opinion on the 2011-12 accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Payments Agency.
This Departmental Overview is one of 15 we are producing covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during 2011-12.
The National Audit Office (NAO) has undertaken an efficiency review of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) delivery of meat hygiene official controls.
The horsemeat incident in January 2013 exposed weaknesses in control in the food supply chain.
Despite the fact that the Defra has made improvements in its financial management, the NAO cannot yet conclude that the Department is achieving value for money in its financial management activity.
This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during 2010-2011.
Defra needs good cost information to scrutinise and challenge its arm’s length bodies, so that it can reduce costs with minimal disruption to frontline services.
The NAO has published its report on the 2010-11 accounts of the Rural payments Agency.
The NAO has published its report on the 2010-11 accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Commentary on cost data provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Advisory Group on Responsibility and Cost Sharing
The Environment Agency’s approach to tackling diffuse water pollution, such as run-off from agricultural land, has not, to date, proved value for money. The development of River Basin Management Plans now offers an opportunity to target work by the Agency and others to tackle this complex problem.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his audit opinion on the 2009-10 accounts of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the grounds of regularity.
DEFRA has delivered some value from the £39.3 million spent on its geographic information strategy and activities. However, a lack of financial information means that the NAO cannot determine that value for money has been achieved.
This short guide is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the last Parliament.