Conclusion 11

Officials from compensation schemes across government attend eight- weekly meetings of a cross-Whitehall network to share updates on schemes, learning and best practice. The NAO’s report found that these meetings are helpful opportunities for Departments to raise questions on operational issues and policy design, which have led to improvements in earlier schemes and benefitted later ones.22 However, that there remains 16 Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Final Report Volume 1, Recommendation 17, HC 1119, July 2025; C&AG Report, Lessons learned: Government compensation schemes, Session 2024–25, HC 121 17 Q 15-16 18 Q 106 19 Q 112 20 Q 109 21 C&AG’s Report, para 2.24 22 C&AG’s Report, para 2.27 15 no dedicated team within government that has central oversight of, or offers support to, bodies setting up or administering government compensation schemes. Without such oversight, the government risks losing its expertise in ensuring schemes operate in a timely, efficient and effective manner.23 Written evidence we received from Hackney Council also warned that without government making efforts to learn lessons from earlier compensation schemes, there is a risk that mistakes from earlier compensation schemes and injustices are repeated.24