Covid-19: Cost tracker update (+ Spending Review)

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Oct 2021 Closed: 26 Apr 2022 Parliament page
The Committee will question senior Treasury officials on the latest figures for the total cost of the UK national response to the Covid-19 pandemic so far , and how this impacts and interacts with the much-anticipated cross-Government Spending Review, with the Autumn Budget to be delivered on October 27 . … Read more
11 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Letter
Activity timeline 3 events
28 Apr
2022
Report published
21 Apr
2022
Correspondence
23 Feb
2022
Report published
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Thirty-Eighth Report - COVID-19 cost tracker update HC 640 23 Feb 2022 19 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
13 Recommendation Not Addressed
Thirty-Eighth Report - COVID-19 co…
In our report in June 2021, we recommended that HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office...
In our report in June 2021, we recommended that HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office set out how they would ensure that departments implemented a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and error following the pandemic and ensure taxpayers’ money was recovered.28 … Read more
Government Response
The government claims the recommendation is implemented by referencing a general letter from March 2021 and discussing departmental responsibility for estimating fraud, but does not specifically detail how it ensures a zero-tolerance approach or mechanisms for recovering taxpayers' money as recommended.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion
Thirty-Eighth Report - COVID-19 co…
The COVID-19 pandemic placed increased pressure on government departments to respond to a crisis while...
The COVID-19 pandemic placed increased pressure on government departments to respond to a crisis while continuing to provide their business-as-usual services. The Comptroller and Auditor General told us that the NAO had now, for the most part, completed its examination … Read more
HM Treasury
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15 Recommendation Not Addressed
Thirty-Eighth Report - COVID-19 co…
As part of our previous examination of the cost tracker in May 2021, we concluded...
As part of our previous examination of the cost tracker in May 2021, we concluded that government’s ability to achieve value for money was compromised during the pandemic by poor quality impact assessments and Accounting Officer assessments.33 To address this, … Read more
Government Response
The government claims the recommendation is implemented by referencing a general letter from March 2021 outlining lessons and actions, which predates the specific request to review major COVID-related spending decisions for poor value for money, report findings by end of 2021, and produce guidance.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion Not Addressed
Thirty-Eighth Report - COVID-19 co…
HM Treasury informed us that it had conducted a lessons learned exercise with Accounting Officers...
HM Treasury informed us that it had conducted a lessons learned exercise with Accounting Officers and it planned to update Managing Public Money in December
Government Response
The government claims the recommendation is implemented by referencing a March 2021 letter, but this does not confirm the specific update to 'Managing Public Money' in December that HM Treasury had previously informed the Committee it planned to do.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 11 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 5
Not Addressed 3
Total 11 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
21 Apr 2022 Correspondence from Sir Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re COVID-19 cost tracker update (Session 2021-22), dated 31 March 2022
Parliament page