The Compact is a voluntary agreement that sets out shared principles for effective partnership working between the government and voluntary and civil society organisations in England. This report examines departments’ progress in implementing the recommendations in our 2012 report on the Compact.
This memorandum has been prepared to support the Committee of Public Accounts’ consideration of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) provision of accommodation to its service personnel.
The risks to the affordability of the Ministry of Defence Equipment Plan are greater than at any point since reporting began in 2012.
The BBC’s cost reduction programme has so far delivered value for money. However, the need to make further savings from productivity improvements will involve more challenging and potentially disruptive changes to structures and ways of working.
Probation services have been restructured on time and within cost targets during a period of major change but operational problems and risks to further service transformation need to be resolved if re-offending levels are to reduce.
The Department of Health and NHS England are making progress but much remains to be done to improve access to mental health services.
In December 2015 a five year contract, worth around £800 million between UnitingCare Partnership and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough clinical commissioning group collapsed after only 8 months because it ran into financial difficulties. NAO examined the design, procurement and operation of the contract and the events that led to its termination.
Since 2010 there has been an increase in the number of companies in government at the same time as a reduction in the number of public bodies which raises issues of transparency, accountability, governance and review.
The management of rail franchising has improved since 2012 however significant risks remain to achieving value for money as the programme develops.
It is important that the services for vulnerable people at the Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre are delivered ‘right first time’ and this did not happen here. Steps are now being taken to address the problems but 35% of the recommendations from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons’ 2015 inspection have not yet been implemented.
The Building Public Trust Awards recognise trust and transparency in corporate reporting. This is the 12th year in which PwC has presented these annual awards.
An interactive summary of the NAO’s presentations at Civil Service Live events, 2015, on four pervasive issues blocking public service improvement.
If the government is serious about increasing its use of small and medium – sized enterprises (SMEs), it will need to focus on those areas where SMEs can deliver real benefits.
The Department for Work and Pensions has not yet achieved value for money in managing contracted-out health and disability assessments.
Against a backdrop of increasing pressure on NHS finances, NHS England has not controlled the rising cost of specialised services.
Public Health England has made a good start in supporting local authorities with their new responsibilities for public health but it is too soon to tell whether its approach is achieving value for money.
This report outlines the importance of recognising and adequately managing conflicts of interest.
The welfare cap is encouraging a greater understanding of spending on some benefits and tax credits across government, but it is important that processes for managing the cap are reliable.
The Environment Agency has improved the cost effectiveness and prioritization of its flood risk spending but current spending is insufficient to meet many flood defence maintenance needs.
The incentives on government Accounting Officers to prioritise value for money are weak compared to those associated with the day-to-day job of satisfying Ministers.