National Audit Office publications

Ministry of Defence: Major Projects Report 1999

“The Ministry of Defence’s past performance in procuring major equipments has been unsatisfactory with significant cost overruns and delays on projects and adverse operational implications. I welcome the changes being introduced under the Smart Procurement Initiative since the baseline date of this report and the prospects they hold for improvement. Future Major Projects Reports will provide a basis for assessing how successful Smart Procurement is in enabling the Ministry of Defence to enhance defence capability by acquiring and supporting equipment more effectively in terms of time, cost and performance.”

Sector(s): National security

Published:
6 Jul 2000

The New British Embassy in Berlin

“Broadly this should prove to be a satisfactory deal. There were some delays, but the FCO has done well to ensure that the risks of the project are placed with the party best able to manage them”.

Sector(s): Infrastructure, International, Private Finance

Published:
30 Jun 2000

The Refinancing of the Fazakerley PFI Prison Contract

“The Prison Service has obtained a share of refinancing benefits which recognises its exposure to increased termination liabilities. This review has identified important lessons for other departments who are likely to have to deal with the refinancing of PFI projects in the future.”

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

Published:
29 Jun 2000

Maintaining the Royal Palaces

“I am very pleased to be able to present this first report of its kind and I am grateful to the Royal Household for their full co-operation. They are managing this work well.”

Sector(s): Infrastructure, Royal Household

Published:
22 Jun 2000

Charitable Funds Associated with NHS Bodies

“I am glad to be able to provide a positive assurance that these funds are being well managed. In our report, wherever possible we have drawn out examples of good practice, as well as pointing to areas where we consider that further improvements to corporate governance and financial control arrangements could be made.”

Sector(s): Health and social care

Published:
15 Jun 2000

The Gaming Board: Better Regulation

“The Gaming Board has taken steps in recent years to improve the way it regulates the gaming industry but could achieve still more with a lighter regulatory touch. Better risk assessment, together with more use of the regulatory work already being done by the major operators, would enable the Board to reduce its routine inspections. This would benefit both the industry and taxpayers. Another area it must address is the failure to fully recover the costs of regulating the industry, the current shortfall being around £1.3 million over a five year period.”

Sector(s): Arts, media and sport

Published:
9 Jun 2000

Kosovo: The Financial Management of Military Operations

“The Ministry of Defence made a major contribution to NATO operations in Kosovo and the professionalism and commitment of our Armed Forces has contributed, and continues to contribute, to the military success and the wider rebuilding of infrastructure and relationships. The Department’s financial management of the operations represents a clear improvement over that demonstrated for Bosnia, and the report details some further important lessons for the Department when undertaking future deployments.”

Sector(s): International, National security

Published:
5 Jun 2000

Department for International Development – Emergency Aid: The Kosovo Crisis

“The Department made a major contribution to saving lives and relieving suffering during the Kosovo crisis. Our recommendations are designed to help improve even more the way they respond to future emergencies.”

Sector(s): International

Published:
26 May 2000

National Savings: Public-Private Partnership with Siemens Business Services

“This is one of the most remarkable PFI deals we have seen because it has resulted in the transfer to private sector employment of all but some 130 staff of an entire Government department. The number of staff employed on National Savings work will fall but the deal has been structured in such a way that SBS is incentivised to find alternative work for its new employees. There are a number of lessons that other Government departments can learn from this partnership, particularly how National Savings procured the deal and the framework established to manage the partnership with SBS.”

Sector(s): Education and skills, Private Finance

Published:
25 May 2000

The Risk of Fraud in Property Management

“Fraud on public expenditure is unacceptable and diverts taxpayers’ money from those purposes for which it is intended. The risk of fraud in property management is intrinsically high, and despite a number of Departmental fraud management initiatives, remains at unacceptable levels after operation of the Department’s existing controls. By implementing the recommendations in my report, the Department could reduce significantly the risks of fraud in this important area of expenditure.”