The report examines the system protecting consumers from scams, unfair trading, and unsafe goods. BEIS has made progress since our 2011 review, but needs to do more, particularly in the context of the growth of e-commerce.
The European Commission and Member States have made progress in strengthening the financial management of European Union funds, according to a report today from the National Audit Office. But for the thirteenth year in a row the European Court of Auditors (ECA) did not provide a positive Statement of Assurance on the legality and regularity […]
In the 25 Year Environment Plan, government identified regulation as one of the key mechanisms to achieve its environmental goals. Through different regulatory bodies, Defra is already delivering a range of regulatory interventions. This study will examine how regulation is contributing towards the delivery of government’s environmental objectives.
The Cabinet Office estimates that government commits around £130 billion to grants each year – nearly 20% of all government spend. Grants are an important delivery mechanism for policy across government, not just centrally but also in agencies, local authorities and other bodies across the public sector.
This briefing complements the Departmental Overview prepared for the Department for International Development and covers specific topics of particular interest to the International Development Committee, including trends in DFID’s expenditure and total UK Official Development Assistance; and the Department’s progress in managing the delivery of the government’s target to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income on UK Official Development Assistance in 2013.
This report examines government’s progress with its programme of trade negotiations since the UK’s departure from the EU.
The Department for Business, Skills and Innovation has not used good quality information to decide which science capital projects to invest in to optimise scientific and economic benefits.
The NAO Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 provides details about our work and performance.
This report examines Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance (UKEF) progress and performance in supporting UK exports.
This report looks at the set-up of the UK infrastructure Bank, including HM Treasury’s planning before launch.
The Department for International Development’s aid programmes have helped the rural poor in developing countries. But poverty in rural areas must be substantially reduced if DFID is to meet its targets, according to a report out today by the National Audit Office. More than 1.1 billion people worldwide are living in extreme poverty. Around 75 […]
HMRC has a special unit to collect tax from high net worth individuals who are those with assets of £20m or more. While this special unit gives it a better understanding of the tax affairs and behaviours of these taxpayers it needs to evaluate what approaches are the most effective and to understand the outcome it achieves.
This briefing by the National Audit Office is designed to support the International Development Committee’s inquiry into the Department for International Development’s Multilateral Aid Review (MAR).
Skills Funding Agency accounts qualified as £50m paid in advance to FE Colleges
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office resource accounts for 2005-06, published today, include a report by Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, on the theft and misuse of satellite phones in Iraq. The NAO report provides Parliament with details of losses of £594,000 caused by the unauthorised use of satellite telephones in Iraq. […]
The MOD have been unable to provide evidence to support the existence and value of certain assets and inventory balances. In addition, the Department’s accounting policies are not fully compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards.
The Department for International Development works well with civil society organisations (CSOs) to help some of the world’s poorest people, according to today’s National Audit Office report. But the department needs better information on the effectiveness of CSOs in developing countries, and on the impact of its assistance, if it is to ensure aid is […]
The Department for Transport agreed to make a £30m grant towards construction of the Garden Bridge despite its concerns over value for money. The NAO’s review does not assess the value for money of the project as a whole.