Achieving impacts Helping the nation spend wisely

Achieving impacts Achieving impacts Ashley McDougall Director of Parliamentary Relations, National Audit Office June 2013

Achieving impacts The accountability cycle PAC Hearing PAC Report and recommendations Government response Follow-up of recommendations NAO Report

Achieving impacts The accountability cycle PAC Hearing PAC Report and recommendations Government response Follow-up of recommendations NAO Report

Achieving impacts Timing of the accountability cycle HearingPAC Report Government response (plans) Follow-up Second Government response (actions) 6 weeks later 1-3 years months later

Achieving impacts Follow-up Committee actions Willing to use the profile of PAC to push for change Letters to Accounting Officers Questions in future hearings Recalling witnesses National Audit Office actions Advise Committee on quality of Departmental response (Strong/Adequate/Weak) Address through other value for money studies Work with Departmental Audit Committees Target financial savings HM Treasury Very keen to simplify responses and speed-up replies

Achieving impacts Outcomes of follow-up work Clearer lines of accountability Improved information on performance 82% of Committee recommendations accepted or partially accepted NAO assessment that 67% of responses were Strong/Adequate and 33% Weak Financial impacts of £1.2 billion in 2012, 17:1 ratio of NAO costs (target was £677million, 10:1 ratio of costs)

Achieving impacts The keys to achieving impacts Quality and clarity of recommendations Written commitments Validation of commitments Transparent follow-up Target to incentivise measurement of impact