Value for Money
Central oversight of arm’s-length bodies
Published 23 June 2021
7 recommendations
Cabinet Office
Accountability and oversightProject and service delivery
nao.org.uk
This report focuses on the role of the centre of government in supporting government departments’ oversight of arm’s-length bodies.
Recommendations (7)
Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker
Cabinet Office
Rec 1
Accepted
Implemented
For all future business cases proposing a new ALB, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury should ensure departments are explicit about the costs and benefits of different delivery approaches and apply these consistently, so that the ALB model used is appropriate.
Cabinet Office
Rec 2
Accepted
Work in Progress
As the Cabinet Office develops its new public bodies reform programme it should set out clear expectations and criteria for how the choice of different forms of ALBs and oversight arrangements should be assessed.
HM Treasury
Rec 3
Partially Accepted
Implemented
Departments and ALBs should review framework agreements regularly, supported by HM Treasury (and the Cabinet Office where appropriate). HM Treasury, departments and ALBs should ensure that agreements are properly drafted, consistent, maintained and updated when needed.
Cabinet Office
Rec 4
Accepted
Work in Progress
The Cabinet Office should set out common standards for what good departmental sponsorship arrangements look like, and work with departments to ensure sponsorship teams have the right capability and sufficient capacity. It should monitor how this is adopted by departments during its regular review of framework agreements.
Cabinet Office
Rec 5
Accepted
Work in Progress
Departments and the Cabinet Office should establish standards and good practice for monitoring ALB risks at departmental and cross-government levels. This should include establishing strong links between the Cabinet Office and the GFF on cross-departmental risks, and between departmental heads of risk on risks across their respective ALBs.
Cabinet Office
Rec 6
Accepted
Work in Progress
The Cabinet Office and departments should develop and strengthen centres of ALB expertise and support them with organising events, training and sharing of good practice.
Cabinet Office
Rec 7
Accepted
Implemented
The Cabinet Office, departments and ALBs should work together to develop and share performance information between ALBs, to help identify opportunities for improvement.