The Comptroller & Auditor General’s audit opinion of the 2011-12 DCMS accounts was qualified due to the accounts not accurately reflecting the value of certain assets held within the Group.
The Ministry of Justice hosted a consultation on proposals outlined in Transforming Rehabilitation – a revolution in the way we manage offenders.
The NAO has responded to this consultation (February 2013).
HMRC has improved its approach to tackling error and fraud in tax credits but still lost £2.3 billion in 2010-11.
The jobcentre network has coped well in the economic downturn, but must improve performance measures if it is to support claimants effectively.
An NAO review of the Government’s strategy for cyber security indicates that, although at an early stage, activities are already beginning to deliver benefits.
In 2011-12 HMRC maintained its performance while reducing staff and spending but it is too early to tell what the long-term impact of cost reduction will be.
The 2003 contract for hospital consultants delivered many expected benefits, but there is room for improvement in how trusts manage their consultants.
The NAO has reported on the 2012-22 Equipment Plan of the Ministry of Defence.
Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General, has refused to sign off fully the 2011-12 Civil Superannuation accounts.
Early action has the potential to improve outcomes and value for money, but evidence of its impact and cost-effectiveness is currently patchy.
The NAO examines central government’s approach to the funding of local authorities as they deal with reduced funding without reducing services.
Government initiatives to reduce ICT spending are starting to work but the challenge will be to use ICT to reform public services and how government works.
HMCTS has improved its ability to provide financial information on fines and penalty transactions but significant issues remain with key data systems.
The NAO has highlighted five risks to the value for money of some national infrastructure projects.
There are signs MOD has begun to make trade-offs with cost, time and technical requirements. But some major projects still suffer cost rises and delay.
There have been some encouraging signs of improvement in the robustness of the approvals process in recent years but there remain a number of areas where a greater focus would add value.
Regulation of the consumer credit market is providing benefits to consumers, but is not minimizing consumer harm from unscrupulous trading practices.
Despite some welcome improvements, HMRC’s performance in answering calls from the public is poor value for money.
The NHS made a substantial amount of efficiency savings in 2011-12. These will need to be sustained and built on if savings targets are to be met.
This commentary, on the first set of Work Programme data, has been produced for the Committee of Public Accounts.