Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
In addition to the wider efforts to improve basic documentation, the Department told us that...
Recommendation
In addition to the wider efforts to improve basic documentation, the Department told us that it had introduced measures such as spot checks by the principal private secretary to reinforce the importance of proper record-keeping in private offices. The Department explained that the measures were designed to ensure staff in private offices and policy teams always kept records of any discussions that had substantive government business as part of them or were relevant to decision making. This applied to both minuting of meetings and maintaining records of ministers’ engagements with external organisations.17 Conflicts of interest
Government Response Summary
The department has written to the Committee on 31 October 2022 with the details requested by the Committee, regarding how its commercial refresh will bring record-keeping up to standard.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1: PAC conclusion: Woefully inadequate record-keeping by the Department makes it impossible to have confidence that all its contracts with Randox were awarded properly. 1: PAC recommendation: The Department should write to us within two months, setting out details of when and how its commercial refresh will bring record-keeping up to standard and ensure that this is the case under all circumstances. 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation Implemented 1.2 The department has written to the Committee on 31 October 2022 with the details requested by the Committee.