Capability in the Civil Service
Published on:Government has gaps in its capability and must do more to develop the skills needed. It is making plans, but the scale of the challenge means greater urgency is needed.
Government has gaps in its capability and must do more to develop the skills needed. It is making plans, but the scale of the challenge means greater urgency is needed.
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.
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 government’s procurement strategy has led to savings. But, a cultural shift is needed if government is to obtain all the benefits available.
Lessons from the large body of experience of using PFI can be applied to improve other forms of procurement. Government should also do more to act as an ‘intelligent customer’ in the procurement and management of projects.
The National Audit Office has warned that the value for money of 43 major government projects worth around £200 billion is at risk because of significant weaknesses in the Government’s commercial skills and expertise. But there is an even greater risk to many other complex projects where skills shortages are not being assessed systematically. The […]
Plans to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of services such as human resources, payroll and finance could cost the Department for Transport £81 million (by March 2015) rather than saving £57 million as originally expected. There will need to be substantial improvements in the shared service centre’s productivity if the Department’s original targets are to […]
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported today on progress made by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to improve the procurement of information technology (IT) systems by departments and agencies. He concluded that OGC has put structures in place to minimize the risk of future IT failure and that department and […]
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported to Parliament today that the new Laganside Courts complex in Belfast, opened in February 2002, is delivering significant benefits. The combination of Crown, County and Magistrates’ Courts has improved upon the previously dissipated nature of court provision in Belfast. Initial reactions from court users have […]
Most (81%) public bodies involved in PFI projects believe that they are achieving satisfactory or better value for money from their PFI contracts according to a National Audit Office report presented to Parliament today, based on the first ever major survey of central government PFI projects in progress. There was generally positive feedback from service […]
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on MoJ’s 2024-25 financial statements.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on DESNZ’s 2024-25 financial statements.
Responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) requests made to the NAO in 2025.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on MHCLG’s 2024-25 financial statements.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on FCDO’s 2024-25 financial statements.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on HM Treasury’s 2024-25 financial statements.
The C&AG has issued a clean audit opinion, providing assurance to Parliament on BBC Group’s 2024-25 financial statements.
This report examines the performance of the Ministry of Defence in delivering the F-35 programme compared to its aims.
This report examines the performance of the Ministry of Defence in delivering the F-35 programme compared to its aims.
The College of Policing’s 2023-24 accounts have been disclaimed after they failed to properly manage a transition to new accounting systems