Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, 18 and bullet 1
HMT and DBT, working with local authorities, should by December 2023 draw up contingency plans to cover the provision of financial support to priority groups in the event of a future national emergency. The plans should draw upon the considerable experience gained by the departments and local authorities during
the pandemic.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q2 2025-26
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 2
The plans should include: the responsibilities for assessing the level of economic risk, identifying potential solutions and taking action;
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 3
The plans should include: the data sources and analysis that might be needed at speed to assess the risk, determine how support might be targeted and the quantum of support needed;
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 4
The plans should include: the mechanisms for drawing upon local authority and departmental delivery expertise early in the design of the emergency support;
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 5
The plans should include: the mechanisms for considering the trade-offs that may need to be made between targeting support and introducing administrative complexity;
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 6
The plans should include: the options available for maintaining adequate control over the disbursement of public money ? reducing the risk of error and fraud as far as practicable ? whilst acting at pace;
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 11, para 18, bullet 7
The plans should include: consideration of what post-payment assurance processes may be needed and what can be done to streamline this; and
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: HM Treasury · Source location: Page 11, 19
HMT should, by September 2023, commission work to consider the impact of, and benefit secured from, the range of support to business provided through the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the development of future initiatives.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q2 2025-26
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 11, para 18, bullet 8
The plans should include: an assessment of the level of resources required to introduce and then manage future schemes when drawing on these lessons.
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO
Addressee: Department for Business and Trade · Source location: Page 10, para 18, bullet 10
The plans should include: the type of leadership, capabilities and governance arrangements that need to be in place as the emergency response evolves
Response position:
Accepted
Delivery:
Implemented
· Q4 2024-25
· Confirmed by NAO