Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Reliable data on government efficiency savings is crucial for informed decision-making
Conclusion
Government officials need reliable data on where efficiency savings are identified to free up resources for other priorities and to make decisions about where to best allocate resources to maximise return on investment. Managing Public Money emphasises that effective decision-making is reliant on regular, high-quality information about costs, performance and efficiency.7 We have found throughout our work that timely and comprehensive data is essential to support informed decision making. For example, we have repeatedly raised concerns that delays to the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and missing data were reducing the usefulness and reliability for Parliament, local authorities and the public. In 2024, we found that delays to publication of the WGA meant that Parliamentarians and other users were having to make important decisions without full information about public finances.8 We therefore asked when government could expect the reporting of efficiency savings to be sufficiently improved so that the information could be used to inform policy decisions. The Cabinet Office told us that the reporting of efficiency savings in 2024 would be “so much better” as a result of the Government Efficiency Framework.9
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating the Government Efficiency Framework (GEF) was published in July 2023 to set common standards for efficiency savings data. GEF reporting is currently being rolled out across government, and HMT will learn lessons from pilot reporting to iterate requirements with departments.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented In July 2023, HM Treasury (HMT) published the Government Efficiency Framework (GEF). The framework sets common standards for the defining, collecting, and reporting of data on efficiency savings. The GEF reporting is currently being rolled out across government, and HMT will look to learn lessons from the first round of pilot reporting requirements, including the scope of reporting, and will look to iterate these requirements with departments. Efficiencies, as defined within the framework, will be the focus of reporting as opposed to non-efficiency savings.