Capability in the Civil Service
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.
Published:
24 Mar 2017
24 Mar 2017
International issues
Globalisation means every part of the public sector is affected by international issues. International development, trade, foreign affairs, and security and border issues have clear global focuses. Tourism, defence, cyber crime, laws and regulations, economic growth, education and many large projects have international aspects, and frequently involve working with international partners.
Public bodies can work together and learn from each other in many ways, such as coordinating UK activities overseas, contributing to international action and regulations, and identifying opportunities and best practice through international comparisons.
As international issues affect so many sectors, this page brings together all our publications with international lessons and good practice.
Key NAO publications: A Short Guide to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (Jul 2015); A Short Guide to the Department for International Development (Jul 2015); Exploiting the UK brand overseas (June 2015); Managing the Official Development Assistance target (Jan 2015); and Managing and removing foreign national offenders (Oct 2014)
Investigation into the Department for International Development’s approach to tackling fraud
The NAO has conducted an investigation into DFID’s approach to tackling fraud, following an increase in the potential risks after the government committed to spend 0.7% of GDP on foreign aid.
Published:
9 Feb 2017
9 Feb 2017
Briefing on EU-UK finances
This briefing has been prepared to provide Parliament with information about the financial relationship between the UK and the European Union (EU). It is intended to assist scrutiny of the government’s strategy for leaving the EU.
Published:
13 Dec 2016
13 Dec 2016
Departmental Overview 2015-16: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
This Departmental Overview looks at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and summarises its performance during the year ended March 2016, together with our recent reports on it.
Published:
28 Nov 2016
28 Nov 2016
Department for International Development: investing through CDC
The Department for International Development has improved its oversight of CDC and has directed it to address many of the weaknesses previously identified by Parliament. However, it remains a significant challenge for CDC to demonstrate its ultimate objective of creating and making a lasting difference to people’s lives in some of the world’s poorest places.
Published:
28 Nov 2016
28 Nov 2016
Departmental Overview 2015-16: Department for International Development
This Departmental Overview looks at the Department for International Development (DFID) and summarises its performance during the year ended March 2016, together with our recent reports on it.
Published:
8 Nov 2016
8 Nov 2016
Progress on the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme
This an update on earlier reports by the NAO and Committee of Public Accounts on the progress of the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme. It focuses primarily on the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme payments to English farmers and landowners and improvements to the process for the 2016 and future years.
Published:
24 Oct 2016
24 Oct 2016
The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement programme
UK Government says it is on track to meet target to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. Local authorities’ ability to secure suitable school places and houses a risk to success. NAO estimate programme will cost £1.12bn by 2020.
Published:
13 Sep 2016
13 Sep 2016
Realising the benefits of the St Helena Airport project
The St Helena airport’s planned opening date in May 2016 has been postponed as outstanding safety concerns are addressed, potentially adding to the project’s cost and delaying its benefits.
Published:
9 Jun 2016
9 Jun 2016
Financial management of the European Union budget in 2014: a briefing for the Committee of Public Accounts
This briefing on financial management of the EU budget has been prepared for the UK Committee of Public Accounts, drawing exclusively from published material.
Published:
12 Feb 2016
12 Feb 2016