Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance
22 Apr 2022 Internal Audit

Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance

CSW assesses progress against key actions set out in the Declaration on Government Reform, and explores how volunteering can boost skills and support key priorities
by Suzannah Brecknell
Met Police reviewer worried home secretary ‘doesn’t understand the size of reform needed’
23 Mar Internal Audit
Met Police reviewer worried home secretary ‘doesn’t understand the size of reform needed’
Home Office police recruitment demands 'pushed Met focus away from diversity and skills'
21 Mar Internal Audit
Home Office police recruitment demands 'pushed Met focus away from diversity and skills'
Cabinet Office targets £1bn-a-year savings through new efficiency pilot
07 Mar Internal Audit
Cabinet Office targets £1bn-a-year savings through new efficiency pilot
FCDO to step up aid scrutiny as minister admits UK 'not a development superpower'
08 Dec 2022 Internal Audit
FCDO to step up aid scrutiny as minister admits UK 'not a development superpower'
Development minister also planning restructure which could include new second perm sec
Perm secs take flak for major-project spending transparency
02 Dec 2022 Internal Audit
Perm secs take flak for major-project spending transparency
MPs complain of late, poor-quality and “missing in action” accounting-officer assessments
Energy relief schemes put ‘very large’ amount of public money at risk, BEIS perm sec warns
26 Oct 2022 Internal Audit
Energy relief schemes put ‘very large’ amount of public money at risk, BEIS perm sec warns
Sarah Munby raises concerns over fraud and value for money in requests for ministerial directions
Claims of personal integrity won't cut it, the next PM must reinstate ethical standards
30 Aug 2022 Internal Audit
Claims of personal integrity won't cut it, the next PM must reinstate ethical standards
Liz Truss has refused to commit to reappointing an ethics adviser if she becomes prime minister. Neglecting the system that upholds the rules increases the risk her own premiership will be derailed by scandal
Government needs ‘fundamental culture change’ to risk management after Covid
26 Jul 2022 Internal Audit
Government needs ‘fundamental culture change’ to risk management after Covid
Pandemic “has shown the potential costs of failing to prepare effectively", think tank says
Poor evaluation means government ‘not learning from failure’, NAO head warns
10 Jan 2022 Internal Audit
Poor evaluation means government ‘not learning from failure’, NAO head warns
“Limited consequences” for failing to evaluate projects means too few public bodies are doing so, Gareth Davies says
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
03 Dec 2021 Internal Audit
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
Most measures were introduced "too late" to stop fraud, with focus on prevention
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
22 Nov 2021 Internal Audit
'Miles away from conveying the necessary radicalism': Priority outcomes one year on
Martin Wheatley asks: how seriously should we take the Treasury’s renewed interest in what public spending achieves?
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
19 Nov 2021 Internal Audit
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
Lessons from previous simulation exercises "not fully implemented", watchdog says
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
02 Nov 2021 Internal Audit
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
Chancellor defends £37bn spent on test and trace scheme and cost of furlough fraud
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
29 Oct 2021 Internal Audit
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
MPs claim scheme has proven "eye-wateringly expensive" and has not achieved its main objective
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
26 Oct 2021 Internal Audit
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
MPs tell department to listen to local and marginalised communities when handling climate finance
Home Office, Foreign Office and MoJ declared 'least transparent departments'
01 Oct 2021 Internal Audit
Home Office, Foreign Office and MoJ declared 'least transparent departments'
Report underlines questions about whether ministers and their departments take their openness responsibilities seriously enough, IfG says
DfE rebuffs call for systematic review of Covid response
15 Sep 2021 Internal Audit
DfE rebuffs call for systematic review of Covid response
Department is focusing on ongoing improvements and government-wide public inquiry, perm sec Susan Acland-Hood says
‘Perm secs are remarkably immune from accountability for spending’: Maude calls for stronger functions to boost oversight
23 Jul 2021 Internal Audit
‘Perm secs are remarkably immune from accountability for spending’: Maude calls for stronger functions to boost oversight
Delivering the benefits of spend controls requires "strong and capable central leadership" of functions, ex-minister's review finds
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
23 Jun 2021 Internal Audit
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
National Audit Office warns department-level information deficit could impact Cabinet Office’s ability to drive efficiency and reform
Auditor sought to scrutinise work of MoJ
15 Apr 2021 Internal Audit
Auditor sought to scrutinise work of MoJ
Government Internal Audit Agency offers up to £117,800 a year for the right candidate
Ministers admit it’s too early to know cost of merging FCO and DfID
05 Oct 2020 Internal Audit
Ministers admit it’s too early to know cost of merging FCO and DfID
Committee chair “astonished” government failed to consult stakeholders before announcing creation of FCDO
Public bodies may underestimate costs and complexity of ending PFI contracts – NAO
10 Jun 2020 Internal Audit
Public bodies may underestimate costs and complexity of ending PFI contracts – NAO

“Infrastructure could return to the public sector in an unsatisfactory condition and services could be disrupted,” watchdog warns