National Audit Office publications

Appropriation Accounts 1998-99 Volume 8: Class VIII – Lord Chancellor’s Department and Serious Fraud Office

“The Lord Chancellor’s Department has clearly made significant progress towards improving the checking of criminal legal aid applications though more remains to be done.I am disappointed, however, to have to report that financial control weaknesses in the Lord Chancellor’s Department and the incorrect accounting treatment by the Serious Fraud Office meant that both departments have exceeded the funds granted by Parliament and had to ask for further parliamentary authority to approve their expenditure.”

Sector(s): Law and the justice system

Published:
23 Feb 2000

Appropriation Accounts 1998-99 Volume 16: Class XVI – Departments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

“The Revenue Departments collected over £220 billion tax in 1998-99. With such large sums at stake, it is important that the tax system operates effectively. I am therefore pleased to advise Parliament that my examination confirmed that the Department’s systems continued to provide an effective check on the assessment and collection of revenue”.

Sector(s): Tax

Published:
23 Feb 2000

Thames House and Vauxhall Cross

Sir John Bourn, the head of the National Audit Office, today presented to Parliament his reports on the purchase, refurbishment and fitting out of buildings for the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service. These Reports were produced in 1992 and 1995 as classified reports to Parliament and in accordance with the then arrangements for … Read more

Sector(s): Infrastructure

Published:
18 Feb 2000

The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England

“Hospital acquired infections are a huge problem for the NHS. They prolong patients’ stays in hospital and, in the worst cases, cause permanent disability and even death. By implementing the NAO recommendations the NHS could make real improvements in the quality of care for patients and could free up significant additional resources for patient care.”

Sector(s): Health and social care

Published:
17 Feb 2000

Ministry of Defence: Accepting Equipment off-contract and into Service

“Acceptance is a critical stage in the procurement cycle, and therefore needs to be rigorously managed. If properly applied, Smart Acceptance should alleviate many of the problems identified in my report.”

Sector(s): National security

Published:
11 Feb 2000

HM Treasury: Exchange Equalisation Account 1997-98

Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, today reported to Parliament on the financial statements of the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA), which holds the UK’s official reserves of gold and foreign currencies. The accounts for 1997/98 are the first to be published. Sir John’s opinion on the accounts was unqualified but in his … Read more

Sector(s): Central Finance and Treasury

Published:
26 Jan 2000

Appropriation Accounts 1998-99 Class XII, Vote 1: Central Government Administered Social Security Benefits and other pay

“No one under-estimates the scale of the Benefits Agency’s task in tackling fraud and error. Nevertheless the levels of both are unacceptably high. In my report I have drawn attention to the important initiatives the Agency have in place in this key area of their business but I also recognise that they face a significant challenge in seeking to achieve a real and lasting improvement.”

Sector(s): Welfare, Pensions and Employment

Published:
21 Jan 2000

Appropriation Accounts 1998-99 Volume 1: Class I – Ministry of Defence

“In 1998-99 the Ministry of Defence once again failed to keep their spending within the limits set by Parliament. And the loss of public funds through abortive expenditure on IT projects is clearly a cause for concern. Although the Department have made some improvements, my Report shows that they need further to improve their financial management and controls over expenditure.”

Sector(s): National security

Published:
19 Jan 2000

The Scottish Executive: Progress on National Audit Office Reports on Scottish Matters

The Scottish Executive and other Scottish public bodies have responded positively to a range of recommendations arising from value for money work on Scottish matters in the last two years, Sir John Bourn head of the National Audit Office reported to the Scottish Parliament today. Sir John’s report brings together the results of seven previously … Read more

Sector(s): Devolved Administrations, Government, efficiency and transparency

Published:
16 Dec 1999

Fire Service College Accounts 1996-97 and 1997-98

Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, today reported to Parliament that he has qualified his opinions on the above accounts because the Fire Service College could not produce reliable costing information that would confirm whether it had set its fees and charges in accordance with the Treasury Minute which defined the College’s financial objectives.

Sector(s): Local services

Published:
15 Dec 1999

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