Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
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 the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on central government oversight of ALBs.1
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Introduction from the Committee Government relies on ALBs to carry out a range of important functions and to deliver departments’ strategic objectives. The Cabinet Office oversees around 295 ALBs in the UK that spend approximately £265 billion a year and employ around 300,000 people. The scale of these ALBs varies greatly, from large organisations that deliver essential services like NHS England and Ofsted, to smaller bodies like the Boundary Commission for England and the Family Justice Council that only employ a few people. Each ALB operates with a varying degree of independence, but departmental accounting officers remain ultimately accountable to Parliament for the performance of ALBs. The Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and sponsor departments all have a role in setting up and overseeing ALBs. Based on a report by the National Audit Office, the Committee took evidence on 5 July 2021 from the Cabinet Office, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and HM Treasury. The Committee published its report on 24 September 2021. This is the government’s response to the Committee’s report.