Training New Teachers
The government needs to do more to demonstrate how new arrangements for training new teachers are improving the quality of teaching in classrooms.
Source · Recommendations & oversight
National Audit Office
NAO value-for-money reports examining the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of government spending. Recommendations are tracked against government responses and, where a PAC hearing followed, linked to the committee's own recommendations and Treasury Minute responses.
2,824 reports
2,175 recommendations
1,827 confirmed by NAO
61% implementation rate
Reports
Investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality
The NAO has published the findings from its investigation into the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by government officials.
Managing the supply of NHS clinical staff in England
There are shortcomings in how the supply of NHS clinical staff in England is managed, in terms of both planning the future workforce and meeting the current demand for staff.
The UK competition regime
The newly-created Competition and Markets Authority has made significant progress in improving how the UK’s competition regime works, and it is now more coherent than before. Business awareness of competition law, however, is low and …
Investigation into Just Solutions International
There was an estimated net loss of £1.1m when Just Solutions International, the commercial arm of the National Offender Management Service, set up to sell consultancy advice abroad, was closed in September 2015.
2014-15 Accounts of the Office of Legal Complaints
The Comptroller and Auditor General, Amyas Morse, has today qualified his opinion on the 2014-15 Accounts of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) on the grounds of regularity.
Responding to crises
The Department for International Development’s spending on humanitarian interventions has almost trebled between 2010-11 and 2014-15 to more than £1 billion per year, rising as a share of its total budget from 6% to 14%.
Use of consultants and temporary staff
Annual spending on consultants and temporary staff has reduced by £1.5 billion since 2010 when strict spending controls were introduced. However, annual spend is now increasing once more and is between £400 million and £600 …
Local welfare provision
Overall spending on discretionary local welfare support by central and local government has reduced since April 2013. The consequences of this gap in provision are not understood.
Contracted-out health and disability assessments
The Department for Work and Pensions has not yet achieved value for money in managing contracted-out health and disability assessments.
Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the 2014-15 Accounts of the British Council
The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Amyas Morse, has today qualified his opinion on the 2014-15 Accounts of the British Council on the grounds of regularity.
Tackling tax fraud: how HMRC responds to tax evasion, the hidden economy and criminal attacks
HMRC has met its targets to raise more tax revenue in the short-term; however, an estimated £16 billion is lost to tax fraud each year. HMRC needs to improve the way it uses data and …
Client Funds Account – Statutory Child Maintenance Schemes 2014-15
The C&AG has qualified the DWP’s Client Funds Account on the grounds of material errors in the calculations of child maintenance assessments. He has also given an adverse opinion on the truth and fairness of …
Defence Equipment and Support 2014-15 financial statements
The Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his opinion on the financial statements of Defence Equipment & Support.
Sustainability and financial performance of acute hospital trusts
The financial performance of acute hospital trusts has deteriorated sharply and their financial performance looks set to worsen in 2015-16.
Trends in total UK Official Development Assistance and the Department for International Development’s expenditure
The NAO’s memorandum, for the International Development Committee, provides an overview of trends in UK spending on aid.
Companies in Government
Since 2010 there has been an increase in the number of companies in government at the same time as a reduction in the number of public bodies which raises issues of transparency, accountability, governance and …
E-borders and successor programmes
The Home Office spent at least £830 million between 2003 and 2015 on the e-borders programme and its successors, but has failed, so far, to deliver the full vision. We cannot, therefore view e-borders as …
The digital skills gap in government: Survey findings
This interactive publication presents the results of our survey of central government digital leaders’ views and suggests areas for further consideration.
Early review of the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme
Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and Government Digital Service have not worked together effectively to deliver the Common Agricultural Policy Delivery Programme.
Stocktake of access to general practice in England
Patient satisfaction with access to general practice remains high but is declining. Better data is needed so that decisions about general practice are well-informed.
The administration of the Scottish Rate of Income Tax 2014-15
The Scottish Rate of Income Tax will be introduced from 6 April 2016. This report considers the progress HMRC has made so far.
Reform of the rail franchising programme
The management of rail franchising has improved since 2012 however significant risks remain to achieving value for money as the programme develops.
The sale of Eurostar
The sale of Eurostar generated proceeds of £757m. The government prepared well for the sale and achieved its objectives to maximise proceeds. The sale illustrates some general lessons for government as it embarks on its …
Financial sustainability of fire and rescue services
Fire and rescue authorities have managed funding reductions well. The Department for Communities and Local Government should, however, seek greater assurance that authorities are maintaining service standards and delivering value for money locally
Response and delivery evidence
| Status | Recommendations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Implemented | 1,320 | 61% |
| Accepted | 1,718 | 79% |
| Partially accepted | 200 | 9% |
| Work in progress | 503 | 23% |
| Rejected | 41 | 2% |
| Confirmed by NAO follow-up | 1,827 | 84% |
| Methodology: status determined from departmental responses, Treasury Minute responses, PAC follow-up hearings, and NAO own progress tracking. | ||
Departments named in NAO reports
Department of Health and Social Care (126 reports)
HM Treasury (95 reports)
Cabinet Office (88 reports)
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (81 reports)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (76 reports)
HM Revenue and Customs (74 reports)
Department for Work and Pensions (66 reports)
Ministry of Defence (63 reports)
Department for Education (63 reports)
Department for Transport (62 reports)
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (56 reports)
Devolved administrations (56 reports)
Home Office (53 reports)
Ministry of Justice (39 reports)
Department for Culture, Media & Sport (30 reports)