HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY Public Sector Accountability and Auditing in the UK ROLE OF NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE & RELATIONSHIP WITH PARLIAMENT for Distinguished IRAQI Delegation 18 June 2009 Bill Burnett, Director, International & Nigel Penny, International Manager & Project Leader
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY UK Public Accountability Framework OVERALL FRAMEWORK (background for understanding PAC & NAO) * UK Constitution highlights * Separation of functions INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY (not covered further in this presentation) * Controls in Ministries & Corporate Governance * Internal Controls, including Financial Controls * Public Reporting * Internal Audit EXTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY * Overview *Parliament & PAC * NAO role within cycle of accountability
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY Overall - UK Constitution - highlights Separation of duties between –the Crown (the Queen and her Ministers); and –Parliament –Judiciary Legislative and financial authority rests with Parliament Legislation exists to limit and/or regulate powers of Ministers Ministers may do what they are not precluded from doing but can only pay for activities agreed or voted by Parliament
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY Overall - UK Government Administration Role of Ministers –Set strategy and policy Role of Civil Servants –Implement policy –Provide policy advice –Day to day administration
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability Parliament –PAC and other select committees –National Audit Office Media Whistle blowing policies Freedom of Information Inspectors/Regulators – professional reviews & guidelines Ombudsmen – administrative reviews on complaint
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY The External Accountability Process: the Committee of Public Accounts Government requests and Parliament grant funds PAC session and report Government Response C&AG examines spending and reports to Parliament
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY UK Public Accounts Committee
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY The Committee
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability – Committee (1) Chaired by senior opposition MP (by convention) Membership represents balance of parties Addresses Policy Implementation NOT Policy Non-political – ( a Committee of Parliament rather than Parties) Unanimous reports – very rare for need of a vote
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability – Committee (2) Sits twice a week when Parliament is in session Verbatim transcript and video Meetings are open to Press and Public Prepares a report and recommendations to government Government must respond in writing within 2 months (coordinated by HM Treasury who may also attend the hearing)
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY Role of Department
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of Department Answer questions on what happened, why and what will change in the future Based on agreed facts (report clearance) Represented by the Accounting Officer Inquisitorial Department may provide supplementary evidence
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability – Comptroller & Auditor General The C&AG is: appointed by the Queen on recommendation of Prime Minister with the agreement of Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission and approved by House of Commons INDEPENDENT and employs the National Audit Office
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY Role of NAO
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of NAO (1) citizens MEETING THE GETTING THE auditors COST BENEFIT Holding to Where’s the How good is account Money gone? the Service? Helping to Could we get it Could we get Improve for less? better results?
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of NAO (2) For UK: Annual audit of some 570 financial statements Prepare 60 Value for Money reports per year Prepare corporate governance reports (discretionary) Also: European Union, International Audits and Capacity Building
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of NAO (3) Assist Parliament in holding government to account, primarily through PAC – assurance and advice Relationship with PAC Provide analysed & evaluated facts and advice to other Committees of the House of Commons Provide recommendations and advice to departments to improve practice
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of NAO (4) C & AG determines VfM future programme His decision as informed by: * parliamentary & public interest * discussions with Departments * horizon scanning & previous knowledge Necessary corporate planning & resourcing Schedule hearings in conjunction with Chairman
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability - Role of NAO (5) BEFORE the Hearing NAO prepares report, agrees facts with department Publishes report in Parliament & issues press release Briefs the Chairman and Committee members AFTER the Hearing Drafts the Committee’s report Monitors progress Performs a follow up study if deemed necessary
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability – Role of NAO internationally Work with EU Contact Committee Work in conjunction with Westminster Foundation for Democracy e.g. Macedonia, Ukraine, parliaments Work through direct capacity building e.g. Slovenian parliament
HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY External Accountability – Key Points Role of Parliament in ‘holding Government to account’, especially via Parliamentary Accounts Committee – a Committee of the House Implementation rather than Policy focus attendance required C & AG independent of government, an ‘officer’ of the House, liaison with Committee NAO remit, professionalisation, reputation through a track record Committee Meetings open, transparent, verbatim record, Press & Public Government must respond in writing within 2 months Follow up as appropriate by NAO