The Regional Growth Fund
The £1.4 billion funding could result in 41,000 extra full-time equivalent private sector jobs but thousands more could have been created from the same resources.
Published:
11 May 2012
11 May 2012
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Local service delivery
The government has given councils and communities more power to decide how to spend their funding to meet local priorities and drive growth. Councils are now accountable for their spending through various checks and balances, with reduced reporting burdens.
At the same time, councils now have around 37% less central government funding than in 2010. As a result, their financial future is uncertain, and effective service delivery is under threat. Government also has less direct information about whether local spending achieves the intended outcomes and delivers value for money.
Key areas in which the NAO can share lessons and good practice across government are in Accountability in local service delivery; Commissioning services; and Financial and service sustainability.
Key NAO publications:
- Public service markets: Putting things right when they go wrong (Jun 2015)
- Financial sustainability of local authorities 2014 (Nov 2014)
- The Impact of Funding Reductions on Local Authorities (Nov 2014)
- Funding healthcare: Making allocations to local areas (Sep 2014)
- Funding and structures for local economic growth (Dec 2013)
Case study on integration: Measuring the costs and benefits of Whole-Place Community Budgets
By operating in a more integrated way, government could reduce inefficiencies in public services and deliver a better service to citizens. A case study on the Whole-Place Community Budget pilots points to the potential benefits on offer where public services are integrated more effectively.
Published:
13 Mar 2013
13 Mar 2013
Managing the transition to the reformed health system
Although new organisations set up as part of the reformed health system were ready to start functioning on time, the transition to the system is not yet complete.
Published:
10 Jul 2013
10 Jul 2013
Programmes to help families facing multiple challenges
Two government programmes aiming to help families with multiple challenges, such as unemployment and anti-social behaviour, are starting to provide benefits but considerable challenges remain.
Published:
3 Dec 2013
3 Dec 2013
Funding and structures for local economic growth
It has not yet been demonstrated that funding mechanisms for supporting local economic growth are capable of delivering value for money.
Published:
6 Dec 2013
6 Dec 2013
Progress report on the Regional Growth Fund
Improvements have been made to the running of the Regional Growth Fund, but there is still a significant amount of public money to allocate through the Fund.
Published:
25 Feb 2014
25 Feb 2014
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme is improving access to mortgage finance, but the scheme’s costs will be substantial.
Published:
6 Mar 2014
6 Mar 2014
Update on consumer protection landscape reforms
In June 2011, the National Audit Office reported on the system for enforcing consumer law and the Government subsequently made a series of reforms to the consumer landscape. This update report summarises recent changes and sets out the proposed benefits to consumers, businesses and taxpayers as well as the possible risks to be managed.
Published:
24 Apr 2014
24 Apr 2014
Out-of-hours GP services in England
Although some areas of the NHS in England are achieving value for money for out-of-hours GP services, this is not the case across the board.
Published:
9 Sep 2014
9 Sep 2014
Funding healthcare: Making allocations to local areas
There is wide variation in the extent to which £79 billion in central funding allocated to local health bodies differs from target allocations that are based on relative need.
• This is NAO’s first report on funding since the 2013 health reforms took effect. Where possible comparisons have been made with funding under the previous system set out in a 2011 NAO report.
Published:
11 Sep 2014
11 Sep 2014