National Audit Office publications

The Shareholder Executive and Public Sector Businesses

“Despite the Shareholder Executive’s limited powers, it has up to now provided good value for money to parliament and the taxpayer. The Executive has gone a long way in improving how government acts as a shareholder and should be commended for this.

“However, a number of barriers have been identified that could lead to future inefficiencies; and improvements could be made to the way in which the Executive’s performance is measured. The Government should take on board our recommendations if it is to build on its early work and set stretching targets for increasing the value of all public sector businesses”

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Government, efficiency and transparency

Published:
28 Feb 2007

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

The Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train project: investigation into the modification of the national rail network

In May 2012, the Department of Transport expected the tram-train scheme to be completed by Dec 2015. It is now expected to be completed in May 2018.

Sector(s): Infrastructure, Transport

Performance Improvement area(s): Major project delivery

Department(s): Department for Transport

Published:
4 Jul 2017

The South Eastern Passenger Rail Franchise

“The seeds of Connex South Eastern’s difficulties were sown when the train operating company won its franchise with an over-ambitious bid. It indeed subsequently proved to be undeliverable. The Strategic Rail Authority lost confidence in CSE and took the difficult and finely balanced decision to terminate the franchise. The SRA went on to demonstrate that the successful termination of a train operating company’s franchise is feasible, and that taxpayers’ and passengers’ interests can be protected, through careful management of the attendant risks.

“This case highlights lessons to be learned, however, in how franchises are awarded and managed, which the Department for Transport must keep in view as it takes forward the responsibilities it has recently inherited from the Strategic Rail Authority.”

Sector(s): Infrastructure, Transport

Performance Improvement area(s): Contract lifecycle

Published:
2 Dec 2005

The Sovereign Grant

The National Audit Office has today supplied a memorandum to the Public Accounts Committee on the Sovereign Grant and its financial management.

Sector(s): Royal Household

Department(s): HM treasury

Published:
10 Oct 2013

The Statement on Internal Control: A Guide for Audit Committees

The Statement on Internal Control (SIC) is a public accountability document that describes the effectiveness of internal controls in an organisation and is personally signed by the Accounting Officer.

Published:
26 Jan 2010

The Superfast (Rural) Broadband Programme: update

An update for the Committee of Public Accounts on the Programme’s progress, including rollout and take-up of superfast broadband under Phase 1 (delivery to 90% of UK premises by December 2016) and comments on initial progress for phase 2.

Sector(s): Arts, media and sport

Performance Improvement area(s): Digital service delivery, Economic growth

Department(s): Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Published:
28 Jan 2015

The supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic

This report examines the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of the government’s response to COVID-19 in 2020.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Health and social care

Performance Improvement area(s): Contract lifecycle, COVID-19

Department(s): Department of Health and Social Care

Published:
25 Nov 2020

The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement programme

UK Government says it is on track to meet target to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. Local authorities’ ability to secure suitable school places and houses a risk to success. NAO estimate programme will cost £1.12bn by 2020.

Sector(s): Borders and immigration, Children and families, Government, efficiency and transparency, Local services

Performance Improvement area(s): International issues, Local service delivery

Department(s): Home Office

Published:
13 Sep 2016

The Termination of the PFI Contract for the National Physical Laboratory

“The Department for Trade and Industry handled the termination of the contract well. But different handling of the project by all parties at the early stages might well have avoided the problems which led to the termination.”

Sector(s): Education and skills, Private Finance