Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
HM Treasury has used the last two spending reviews to increase the emphasis on evaluation...
Conclusion
HM Treasury has used the last two spending reviews to increase the emphasis on evaluation in departments, but acknowledges it has a lot more to do to address the persistent problems which prevent the provision and use of evaluation.17 Working with the Evaluation Task Force, HM Treasury asked departments to provide evaluation evidence for each line of capital budget spend, and for each new line of resource budget spend.18 All of this is a welcome step forward, but we are disappointed that HM Treasury did not make use of its powers earlier, despite the NAO recommending it in 2013.19
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Evaluation Task Force is working with HM Treasury to ensure that departments respond to and deliver on their settlement conditions relating to evaluation. The ETF has developed a central tracking system that captures updates on departments’ delivery of evaluation settlement conditions and is using this to monitor progress against conditions. Updates on these conditions will be summarised and included in the ETF’s monthly updates to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury and Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency. Were departments to not meet their conditions of settlement, the Treasury can use a variety of levers; approval for future funding can be withheld, delegated limits can be reduced, funding for specific programmes (particularly where related to specific conditions) can be withheld and the National Audit Office may qualify departmental accounts where conditions of settlement have not been met.