Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
UKSV struggled with fluctuating demand and significant increases for security clearances.
Conclusion
UKSV relies on customer demand forecasts in October ahead of each financial year, to enable it to plan for the resources it will need. For 2020–21, customers over-forecast how many clearances they were likely to need, unaware of the coming COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a drop in demand for clearances. Conversely, during 2021–22 customers under-forecast their demand in 11 out of 12 months as the employment market changed as COVID-19 restrictions eased. Overall, in 2021–22, demand for DV clearances increased by 57% and demand for CTC/SC clearances increased by 60%.17 UKSV struggled to cope with this increased demand, in much the same way that it did when there was an increase in demand after the Brexit referendum which required increased resources to plan the UK’s exit from the EU.18
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 21 July 2023. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗