helping the nation spend wisely rob prideaux director of corporate affairs, uk national audit office...

HELPING THE NATION SPEND WISELY

Rob Prideaux Director of Corporate Affairs, UK National Audit

Office

Meeting of Representatives of Supreme Audit Institutions, Parliamentary Audit Committees and

Ministries of Finance of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia17-18 October 2006

Parliamentary Audit Committees – How to make them work effectively


Key success factors

An effective constitutional framework of public scrutiny

A close working relationship with the audit office

Productive evidence sessions A focus on policy implementation Remaining non-partisan and non-political Authority and influence



Statute– Independence of C&AG and NAO– Remit and powers of the Committee

Convention– PAC as NAO reporting route to Parliament– Opposition Chairman– Agreed reports


The accountability process

Government requests and Parliament grant funds

PAC session and report

Government response

C&AG examines spending and

reports to Parliament


Key success factors






Benefits for the National Audit Office Focuses us on a clear parliamentary customer Raises awareness of NAO’s work in Parliament

and in Government Provides a support base in Parliament – NAO

funding & reputation Can make ‘principled’ arguments for enhanced

accountability and wider C&AG/ NAO access



Benefits to the Committee Enables PAC to cover a high volume &

variety of topics Provides expertise and continuity Gives PAC a solid evidence base Allows the Committee to focus on

performance issues and future action Provides a variety of practical support


NAO support to the Public Accounts Committee

Hearings twice weekly on NAO reports 50-60 PAC reports a year based on

NAO report and oral evidence Study programme derived by NAO

– feed PAC interests into programme– consult PAC on programme annually– undertake work at PAC’s request


Wider NAO support to PAC Chairman and members Advice on topical issues &

correspondence Publication and media support to the

Chairman – press statements, briefings, feature articles

Bi-annual PAC Debate & other speeches or interjections in the House of Commons

Draft speeches to be delivered at other events


Key success factors





Productive evidence sessions

Clear and simple messages NAO support for hearings Good PAC witnesses Preparing authoritative PAC reports

to achieve impact Effective follow-up


Clear and simple messages

Short reports – 20 page limit– Single page executive summary

Clear headline messages Good use of graphics and illustrations Avoidance of technical language A paragraph providing an overall

conclusion on value for money


NAO support for hearings

Produce NAO report close to when PAC session will be

Prepare written brief and detailed lines of questioning linked directly to the NAO report

Orally brief the Chairman and Members before a hearing

Attend the evidence session– C&AG as a witness– Team in support


Good PAC witnesses

Witnesses are senior and relevant (normally departmental Accounting Officers)

Witnesses are well-briefed– “A witness is bound to answer all questions which

the committee sees fit to put to him or her"

The witness must respect the process The witness should not be arrogant or overly

defensive


Preparing authoritative PAC reports to achieve impact Audit team prepares a draft report

for the Committee– Based on the evidence session– Focuses on issues of concern to MPs

Teams attend when MPs consider the report

Report makes detailed and “SMART” recommendations


Effective follow-up

Government responds formally to PAC reports in a ‘Treasury Minute’

NAO provides advice on the Treasury Minute response

NAO follows up as appropriate – follow-up reports– briefing to PAC– monitoring


Key success factors





A focus on policy implementation

PAC examines how public money is spent Avoids discussing the merits of policy

objectives Enables a pan-government perspective –

what works well in policy implementation?

Leads to impact and substantive improvements in public services


Key success factors



Productive evidence sessions A focus on policy implementation Remaining non-partisan and non-

political Authority and influence


Remaining non-partisan and non-political

Cross-party membership, led by a member of the opposition

By putting aside political differences, PAC is taken seriously by all

Prepared to be hard-hitting Offers praise where it’s due, especially

for innovation and well-considered risk-taking


Managing the risk of the Committee becoming “politicised” As political debate becomes more administrative

(eg the efficiency agenda), PAC’s work assumes greater prominence and media attention

This increases the profile of the Committee and it attracts more prominent politicians

BUT Increases the risk that discussion divides along

party lines NAO must manage this and guard against political

points being made through the Committee, such as by promoting balanced media briefing


Key success factors



Productive evidence sessions A focus on policy implementation Remaining non-partisan and non-

political Authority and influence


Authority and influence

Both NAO and PAC have a reputation for authoritative research, findings and conclusions

Helped by non-partisan nature and focus on policy implementation

Draws on the expertise of 800 professionally-qualified staff

A serious test for senior public servants


Beneficial impact Takes a broad view and makes recommendations

that cut across government Scrutinises the whole delivery chain (private and

voluntary sector partners, contractors, and service providers)

Produces influential overview reports:– Improving the Delivery of Government IT Projects (2000)– Improving Public Services for Older People (2004)– Delivering High Quality Public Services For All (2006)– Achieving Value for Money in the Delivery of High Quality

Public Services (2006) Over 94% of PAC recommendations accepted by

Government £555 million saved by NAO/ PAC work in 2005

helping the nation spend wisely rob prideaux director of corporate affairs, uk national audit office...

Documents