Recommendation 25

The NAO reported that it was challenging to establish the cost of the Programme from the information NS&I provided. NS&I said it was working on improvements to its cost data for its next business case this.72 The Treasury said it had been satisfied by the spend data in each business case it approved, but there was a lack of clarity at other times.73 When challenged on its understanding of cost data, NS&I said it had “access to the information”, but that legacy systems meant it still has “”some more work to do in terms of how we how we present that information”, and that it was “working through” these issues as it developed the new Programme plan.74 It considered that it had made “significant changes” over the last six to eight months, and said it was “good” that GIAA had rated its financial controls as “moderate”.75 GIAA defines “moderate” as meaning “some improvements are required to enhance the adequacy and effectiveness of the framework of governance, risk management and control”.76