Universal Credit plans were driven by an ambitious timescale, and this led to the adoption of a new approach. The programme suffered from weak management and ineffective control.
In our June 2012 report for the Department for Work and Pensions we recommended ways in which it could strengthen its oversight of the contract.
This NAO impacts case study represents one example where there has been some beneficial change, whether financial or non-financial, resulting from our involvement.
Review of a sample of the data systems underpinning the input and impact indicators in the Department for Work and Pensions’ Business Plan, Common Areas of Spend and wider management information.
This review was carried out on the 2012-15 Business Plan. Revised Business Plans were issued in June 2013.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his audit opinion on the regularity of the National Employment Savings Trust Corporation’s 2012-13 Annual Report and Accounts, on the ground that the Corporation incurred fraudulent expenditure in the year.
Measures to encourage people to save for retirement are not being managed by Departments with enough coherence or accountability.
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit of the DWP’s Social Fund White Paper Account for 2012-13 has revealed substantial improvements in many areas over which he had previously expressed concerns.
The jobcentre network has coped well in the economic downturn, but must improve performance measures if it is to support claimants effectively.
This commentary, on the first set of Work Programme data, has been produced for the Committee of Public Accounts.
The Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his opinion on the regularity of receipts and payments because of the level of error in maintenance assessments. He has also given an adverse opinion on the truth and fairness of the outstanding maintenance arrears.
DWP is working to manage the introduction of the housing benefit reforms and has a critical role to play in anticipating adverse consequences.
