Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Given the uncertainty and plan to reduce test and trace activity we asked the Department...
Conclusion
Given the uncertainty and plan to reduce test and trace activity we asked the Department whether UKHSA would have enough funding to operate going forward. The Department replied that this was under discussion.58 We asked the Department when we took evidence on 7 March 2022 when the UKHSA 2022–23 financial year budget would be known. The only answer the Department could provide was “soon”, and the Department would not say anything more precise, and did not feel able to even say whether “soon” might mean before the end of this financial or this calendar year.59 In written evidence after the session the Department told us it is highly likely, given the volatility of UKHSA’s pandemic related spending, that the final budget will not be agreed until the winter.60 Timely publication of Report and Accounts
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
7: PAC conclusion: With 23 days to go until the financial year end the UK Health Security Agency did not have an agreed budget for the new financial year. 7: PAC recommendation: The Department should not get into this position again and should write to the Committee to set out what steps it has put in place to ensure that all organisations it sponsors have a budget in place to allow sufficient time for financial planning for the year ahead. 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: March 2023 7.2 The Department has written to the Committee setting out the steps implemented to ensure the department’s Financial Planning and Budgeting process allows its Arm’s Length Bodies sufficient time to plan for the year ahead.