Recommendation 24

Evaluation is a systematic assessment of the design, implementation, and outcomes of an intervention.69 It is important for learning what works and why, and to demonstrate accountability for the use of public money.70 Our work on the use of evaluation in government found that much of government activity is not evaluated robustly or at all, and the government does not know what works to improve outcomes in those areas.71 In 59 Committee of Public Accounts, Competition in public procurement, Sixth Report of Session 2023–24, HC 385, 13 December 2023, Conclusions and recommendations, para 5 60 Committee of Public Accounts, Government preparedness for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for government on risk, Forty-Sixth Report of Session 2021–22, HC 952, 23 March 2022, Summary 61 Q15 62 C&AG’s Report, para 3.6 63 Q16 64 Qq17, 83 65 Q21 66 Q53 67 Q30 68 Q69 69 Committee of Public Accounts, Use of evaluation and financial modelling in Government, Fourth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 254, 27 May 2022, para 2 70 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 71 Committee of Public Accounts, Use of evaluation and financial modelling in Government, Fourth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 254, 27 May 2022, Conclusions and recommendations, para 1 Monitoring and responding to companies in distress 17 the case of government interventions in companies, the NAO found no indication that they are any more likely than other government spending to be formally and transparently evaluated.72