The Ministry of Defence’s strategy for improving its financial management has put its finances on a sounder footing and is delivering results, but there are still considerable challenges ahead, including delivering the savings already removed from budget allocations.
Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), has qualified his audit opinion on the MOD’s accounts for the sixth year running.
MOD has made good progress stabilising the equipment programme but needs to set out how a bespoke trading entity will transform Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) into the leading defence acquisition organisation by 2017.
This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we are producing covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Ministry of Defence during 2013-14.
The Ministry of Defence has made significant improvements in its management of and accounting for assets held on its inventory systems. However, the Department recognizes that it still faces significant challenges.
This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we are producing covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Ministry of Defence during 2012-13.
Review of a sample of the data systems underpinning the input and impact indicators in the Ministry of Defence’s 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.
For the first time since 2008-09, Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, has given a clear opinion on the annual financial statements of the Legal Services Commission.
Amyas Morse, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), has qualified his audit opinion on the MOD’s 2012-13 accounts.
We estimate that the MOD made £253 million of savings on inventory purchases in 2012 as a result of our recommendations.
This NAO impacts case study represents one example where there has been some beneficial change, whether financial or non-financial, resulting from our involvement.
This Departmental Overview is one of 15 we have produced covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Ministry of Defence during 2011-2012.
The NAO has reported on the 2012-22 Equipment Plan of the Ministry of Defence.
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.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has again refused to sign off the financial accounts of the Ministry of Defence.
Review of a sample of the data systems underpinning the input and impact indicators in the Ministry of Defence’s Business Plan, Common Areas of Spend and wider management information.
In February 2012, the Committee of Public Accounts held a hearing on the defence landscape. This review was prepared in advance of the hearing, by the National Audit Office for the Committee’s information.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, has today qualified the accounts of the Community Legal Service Fund and the Criminal Defence Service because of errors in payments to legal aid providers.
The MOD is buying more inventory than it uses and not consistently disposing of stock it no longer needs using money that could be spent elsewhere.
The Ministry of Defence, under pressure to make rapid financial savings, is significantly reducing the size of its workforce, by over 54,000 personnel. A report today by the National Audit Office has found that these reductions are happening in advance of the Department’s fully understanding how it will operate with significantly fewer staff.