Value for Money

COVID-19 business grant schemes

Published 23 March 2023 10 recommendations Department for Business & Trade, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, HM Treasury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Business and industryCOVID-19Grants and fundsLocal economyLocal governmentLocal services and housingMoney and tax nao.org.uk
This report looks at BEIS’s oversight of the schemes, its understanding of what the schemes achieved, and how well it worked with local authorities.

Recommendations (10)

Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker
10
Accepted
10
Implemented
10
NAO Confirmed
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 1 Accepted Implemented
HMT and DBT, working with local authorities, should by December 2023 draw up contingency plans to cover the provision of financial support to priority groups in the event of a future national emergency. The plans should draw upon the considerable experience gained by the departments and local authorities during the pandemic.
Page 10, 18 and bullet 1 Q2 2025-26
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 10 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the type of leadership, capabilities and governance arrangements that need to be in place as the emergency response evolves
Page 10, para 18, bullet 10 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 2 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the responsibilities for assessing the level of economic risk, identifying potential solutions and taking action;
Page 10, para 18, bullet 2 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 3 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the data sources and analysis that might be needed at speed to assess the risk, determine how support might be targeted and the quantum of support needed;
Page 10, para 18, bullet 3 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 4 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the mechanisms for drawing upon local authority and departmental delivery expertise early in the design of the emergency support;
Page 10, para 18, bullet 4 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 5 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the mechanisms for considering the trade-offs that may need to be made between targeting support and introducing administrative complexity;
Page 10, para 18, bullet 5 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 6 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: the options available for maintaining adequate control over the disbursement of public money ? reducing the risk of error and fraud as far as practicable ? whilst acting at pace;
Page 10, para 18, bullet 6 Q4 2024-25
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 7 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: consideration of what post-payment assurance processes may be needed and what can be done to streamline this; and
Page 11, para 18, bullet 7 Q4 2024-25
HM Treasury
Rec 8 Accepted Implemented
HMT should, by September 2023, commission work to consider the impact of, and benefit secured from, the range of support to business provided through the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the development of future initiatives.
Page 11, 19 Q2 2025-26
Department for Business and Trade
Rec 9 Accepted Implemented
The plans should include: an assessment of the level of resources required to introduce and then manage future schemes when drawing on these lessons.
Page 11, para 18, bullet 8 Q4 2024-25