Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.1
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's recommendation to streamline the notification process of AO assessments by including a new annex in the next edition of Managing Public Money, and will share a draft with the Committee and the National Audit Office ahead of publication.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Officer assessments. Each department has populated its page with the published Accounting Officer assessment summaries. Guidance on publication of accounting officer assessments has been issued through DAO 04/22. In response to the commission to review and publish outstanding summaries of assessments, departments have informed HM Treasury that they have published 35 of 39 of the outstanding summary accounting officer assessments that they assess as appropriate to publish in line with this guidance. HM Treasury is working with departments to ensure the publication of the remainder as soon as possible. The government agrees that the process of notification of AO assessments should be streamlined. The next edition of Managing Public Money, due before the end of March 2023, will include a new annex to consolidate the various Parliamentary notification requirements set out across that document. This will ensure a consistent approach to Parliamentary notifications, regardless of whether the issue relates to contingent liabilities, ministerial directions or accounting officer assessment summaries. A draft of the new annex will be shared with the Committee and the National Audit Office ahead of publication. The Treasury Officer of Accounts has written to the Committee to provide a full response to the points of detail set out in their letter of 30 November 2022 alongside the submission of this minute.