National Audit Office publications

Inland Revenue EDS Strategic Partnership: Award of New Work

“Partnerships like the one between the Inland Revenue and EDS, rely on trust and understanding between two organisations, qualities which are particularly important as requirements change and develop. Management of the risks associated with new work is therefore a challenging area for value for money. Much has already been achieved, and the Department must ensure that it retains the capability to manage the relationship and keep its options open for the future.”

Sector(s): Education and skills, Tax

Published:
29 Mar 2000

The Private Finance Initiative: The Contract for the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System

“This project was a major procurement for the MOD in the complex field of communications where the MOD has many different requirements and technology is changing rapidly. The MOD achieved a good price on the project they went to the market for but, given that the MOD has a number of closely related communications contracts, a strategic review may have identified options for pursuing further savings from a project with a different scope.”

Sector(s): Arts, media and sport, National security, Private Finance

Published:
23 Mar 2000

Financial Auditing and Reporting: 1998-99 General Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General

“My General Report summarises progress on a number of important issues facing departments, including resource accounting, corporate governance and performance measurement. It is clear that they face major challenges in these areas, and the National Audit Office and I will continue to work with them to ensure that a robust system of audit and accountability to Parliament is secured”.

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency

Published:
22 Mar 2000

Audit of Assumptions for the March 2000 Budget

Sector(s): Central Finance and Treasury

Published:
21 Mar 2000

NHS (Wales) Summarised Accounts 1998-99

“I remain seriously concerned at the worsening deficits being incurred within the NHS in Wales. The NHS Directorate of the National Assembly for Wales must urgently address this by ensuring that robust recovery plans are in place”.

Sector(s): Devolved Administrations, Health and social care

Published:
16 Mar 2000

State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme: The failure to inform the public of reduced pension rights for widows and widower

“It is extraordinary how a simple error can have such severe consequences for individuals and for the taxpayer. And it is particularly alarming that the error could go unnoticed for so long. These were serious lapses in the standards of public administration and must not be repeated.”

Sector(s): Welfare, Pensions and Employment

Published:
16 Mar 2000

The Sheep Annual Premium Scheme in England

“I am pleased that the Ministry has in large measure addressed the problems of flock records and urge them to continue working with farmers to get it right. This will help to protect the taxpayer from the risk of losing reimbursement from European funds. It will also assist farmers in satisfying scheme rules so that they can get the benefit of a scheme which is providing valuable support at a time of crisis in the industry.”

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Food and farming

Published:
10 Mar 2000

Good Practice in Performance Reporting in Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies

“This is my first general report in this developing area, and has been written to contribute to the advancement of performance measurement and reporting in central government. The report includes a high level checklist on the quality and presentation of data in agency annual reports. I encourage Chief Executives to use the checklist for assessing how well they are monitoring and reporting their agencies’ performance.”

Sector(s): Government, efficiency and transparency

Published:
9 Mar 2000

Scottish Enterprise: Skillseekers Training for Young People

Scottish Enterprise’s Skillseekers programme had made considerable progress in delivering Vocational Qualifications for young people at reducing unit cost. There are, however, a number of ways that Scottish Enterprise and Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) can build on their successes, Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported to the Scottish Parliament today. Skillseekers … Read more

Sector(s): Devolved Administrations, Education and skills

Published:
1 Mar 2000

National Insurance Fund Account 1998-99

Section 161 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 requires me to examine and certify the National Insurance Fund Account and this report records the results of my examination of the 1998-99 account.

Sector(s): Tax