Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
No standard definition for government maintenance backlog impedes strategic funding decisions.
Recommendation
There is no standard definition for the calculation of the total maintenance backlog across government. Government organisations include different costs in their individual calculations. The lack of consistent and complete data impacts government’s ability to make well–informed, strategic choices in the prioritisation of funding.9 We questioned whether departments are complying with the OGP’s data collection standards. The OGP told us that while departments are increasingly co–operating, data quality varies across government.10 In response, the Cabinet Office has stated that it plans to release a common definition and calculation methodology for the government’s maintenance backlog in the second quarter of the financial year 2025–26.11 4 C&AG’s Report, paras 3, 11, 1.12 5 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.2, 2.3, 2.6 6 C&AG’s Report, para 1.13 7 C&AG’s Report, para 2.7 8 Qq 7, 28 9 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.4, 2.5 10 Q 14 11 Letter from the Cabinet Office, dated 11 April 2025 10
Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office has written to the Committee alongside the Treasury Minute response to provide an update on mandating a standard definition of backlog, Insite implementation, and departmental compliance.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1. PAC conclusion: Government efforts to tackle the backlog are undermined by inconsistent and incomplete data. 1a. PAC recommendation: Alongside its Treasury Minute response to this report the Cabinet Office should write to the Committee to update us on: • its progress in mandating that departments use a standard definition of backlog and collect consistent and–up–to–date data so the scale of the backlog is accurately captured in the State of the Estate report; • how Insite implementation has improved data collection and collation; and • what it has done to make sure that all departments comply with its requirements or explain deviation from it. It should include compliance rates alongside the backlog calculation in the 2026 State of the Estate report. 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 14 1.2 The Cabinet Office has written to the Committee alongside this Treasury Minute response in response to this recommendation.