National Audit Office publications

Warm Front: Helping to Combat Fuel Poverty

“The Warm Front Scheme makes a difference to the warmth and fuel bills of so many people.

“However, more could be done to help those households most in need by reducing expenditure on measures which have limited impact on fuel costs and on homes which are already energy efficient. And funds should be redirected to better assist, for example, those in ‘hard to treat’ homes such as those not connected to mains gas or without cavity walls.”

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Published:
25 Jun 2003

The Operational Performance of PFI Prisons

“The experience of the prison sector shows that the use of the PFI is neither a guarantee of success nor the cause of inevitable failure. Like other methods of providing public services, there are successes and failures and they cannot be ascribed to a single factor. PFI has brought some results which are encouraging and some which are disappointing. But what is clear is that competition has helped to drive up standards and improve efficiency across the prison system as a whole.”

Sector(s): Law and the justice system, Private Finance

Performance Improvement area(s): Commercial capability and contract management

Published:
18 Jun 2003

The Department for Trade and Industry: Regional Grants in England

“The regional grants from the DTI to industry in areas of significant unemployment in England have resulted in a number of additional jobs but, according to the Department’s evaluations, there is a substantial difference between the number of jobs initially supported and the number which are truly extra. It is important that the DTI takes steps to ensure the grant assistance is effectively meeting its objectives and to reduce further the administrative burdens involved.”

Sector(s): Local services

Published:
17 Jun 2003

Financial Management in the European Union: The European Court of Auditors report for the year 2001

“My report on the financial management of the European Union draws attention once again to continuing problems in the management of funds. It is a matter of concern that, for the eighth year in succession, the Court of Auditors has qualified its opinion on the reliability of the accounts. I also endorse the Court’s view that the Commission should take urgent, in-depth action to deal with the persistent weaknesses in its accounting system.

“It is vital that the UK government carries on doing all it can, through the Council of Ministers and its other links in the Community, to support the reform progress put into effect by the Commission. We in the National Audit Office will continue to give a high priority to examining how Community funds are managed by UK government departments.”

Sector(s): Europe

Published:
12 Jun 2003

The English National Stadium Project at Wembley

“The road to Wembley has not been easy and the Department found itself in a difficult position in 2001. I welcome the action that has since been taken to review the project and protect the public interest. Ultimately protection of the public interest will depend on the project as a whole being a success so it is vital that the Department and Sport England stay in close touch with the project as it progresses and act promptly if they have any concerns.”

Sector(s): Arts, media and sport, Infrastructure

Published:
6 Jun 2003

Northern Ireland Court Service – PFI: The Laganside Courts

“This was an early PFI deal and the new courts have only been up and running for just over a year. It is apparent to us that the project is an example of imaginative and successful design of a building that is providing a vastly superior service to its users than the nineteenth century Crumlin Road Courthouse, good no doubt in its time, that preceded it. However, there are improvements to be made in how performance is managed now the courts are open for business.”

Sector(s): Devolved Administrations, Law and the justice system

Published:
4 Jun 2003

Ministry of Defence: Through Life Management

“Through-Life Management offers many benefits both in terms of better-informed management of acquisition programmes and better delivery of military capability. The MoD has undertaken massive change over recent years including the implementation of Through-Life Management. It has introduced a range of initiatives that should help it to develop a Through-Life Management approach but has more to do to embed this approach and realise the full range of benefits that Through-Life Management offers.”

Sector(s): National security

Published:
21 May 2003

The New Electricity Trading Arrangements in England and Wales

“Ofgem, together with the electricity industry, has achieved much through the NETA programme of reforms. But my report shows that there are a series of questions that the regulator will need to continue to keep under close scrutiny. How much of the savings in the wholesale market will be passed on to retail customers? How sure can we be that the lights will stay on? And can Ofgem monitor the market so as to prevent market abuse distorting prices?”

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Devolved Administrations, Regulation, consumers and competition

Published:
9 May 2003

PPP in practice: National Savings and Investments’ deal with Siemens Business Services, four years on

“This report shows that there are alternatives to bailing out the private sector. NS&I and Siemens Business Services have learnt valuable lessons in the operation of this project, which are pertinent to other public-private sector partnerships. A whole business approach, where decisions are based on what is best for the business rather than what is best for either the public and private sectors, needs to be adopted if the public and private sectors are to achieve their objectives, and the private sector needs to recognize the management challenge that PFI represents.”

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Education and skills, Private Finance

Published:
8 May 2003

Progress on 15 Major Capital Projects Funded by Arts Council England

“It is pleasing that most of the 15 projects are now delivering the intended benefits to the public. But it is disappointing that two have had to close and that on most the construction work did not go to plan, with delays and cost overruns which resulted in 10 projects needing additional lottery funding. It is important that, in taking forward its new capital programme, the Arts Council monitors the effectiveness of the measures it has introduced to reduce the likelihood of similar problems in the future. Where things do go wrong the Arts Council should be prepared to stop funding and at all times it must ensure that lottery funds are protected so that it is in a position to recover its money in the event of projects failing.”

Sector(s): Arts, media and sport

Published:
2 May 2003

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