Search results

Performance measurement

Public bodies, taxpayers and users need to be able to find out how well public money is being spent, especially when budgets have been cut and government spending needs to deliver more for less. To be able to assess the success of policies, programmes and major projects, government must build performance and value for money measures into design, and ensure that decisions are based on these measures.

A "performance framework" provides the information for those making decisions across an organisation to act coherently, address challenges and changes and explain actions taken. As a minimum, such a framework requires: an agreed set of outcomes for which the business is aiming; a realistic plan of what is needed to achieve them; data on performance against relevant measures; and a mechanism for identifying and overcoming obstacles that arise.

Key NAO publications:

Performance measurement: Good practice criteria and maturity model (Nov 2016)
Evaluation in Government (Dec 2013)
Option Appraisal: Making informed decisions in Government (May 2011)
Performance Frameworks and Board Reporting II (May 2011)
Taking the measure of government performance (July 2010)

Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals

This report examines how government has set itself up to deliver its long-term environmental goals.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Managing major projects, Operational and programme delivery, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
11 Nov 2020

Asylum accommodation and support

This report examines the government’s replacement of the COMPASS contracts for accommodation and support for asylum seekers.

Sector(s): Borders and immigration, Children and families, Welfare, Pensions and Employment

Performance Improvement area(s): Accountability in local service delivery, Customer management, Local service delivery, Operational and programme delivery, Oversight of service delivery, Performance measurement

Department(s): Home Office

Published:
3 Jul 2020

Immigration enforcement

This report assesses whether the Home Office’s activities for enforcing immigration rules are achieving its vision.

Sector(s): Borders and immigration

Performance Improvement area(s): Performance measurement

Department(s): Home Office

Published:
17 Jun 2020

Managing PFI assets and services as contracts end

This report provides information on managing PFI contracts when they end and considers whether government is preparing for expiry appropriately.

Sector(s): Central Finance and Treasury, Local services, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial capability and contract management, Financial and service sustainability, Infrastructure finance, Local service delivery, Managing assets and liabilities, Managing major projects, Oversight of service delivery, Performance measurement

Department(s): Cabinet Office, HM treasury

Published:
5 Jun 2020

Improving the prison estate

This report examines the condition and capacity of HM Prison and Probation Service’s prison estate.

Sector(s): Law and the justice system

Performance Improvement area(s): Performance measurement

Department(s): Ministry of Justice

Published:
7 Feb 2020

British Business Bank

This report examines whether the British Business Bank is improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Financial services

Performance Improvement area(s): Economic growth, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, HM treasury

Published:
15 Jan 2020

Business support schemes

This report examines the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s management of its business support schemes.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise

Performance Improvement area(s): Economic growth, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Published:
15 Jan 2020

Regulating to protect consumers: Utilities, communications and financial services markets

This report assesses how well Ofwat, Ofgem, Ofcom and the FCA measure and report their performance in protecting consumer interests.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Financial services, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Performance measurement, Regulation, User choice and consumer protection

Published:
20 Mar 2019

Environmental metrics: government’s approach to monitoring the state of the natural environment

Our study evaluates how far the government has an effective system for measuring progress towards its environmental objectives.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
16 Jan 2019

Good practice from the Excellence in Reporting in the Public Sector Award – Building Public Trust in Corporate Reporting Awards

The Building Public Trust Awards recognise outstanding corporate reporting that builds trust and transparency. This interactive document illustrates a range of good practice examples in public sector reports.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency

Performance Improvement area(s): Financial management, Performance measurement, Support for Audit Committees, Support to Boards

Published:
18 Apr 2017