Transcript Document

Supporting the PAC:
The Role of the NAO
David Goldsworthy
International Manager
[email protected]
xxxxxx
In the
News
Structure of presentation
• Background on the NAO
• Supporting the PAC
– Pre-hearings
– During the hearings
– Afterward
• Reflections on partnership
Background on the NAO
• UK’s Supreme Audit Institution – SAI
– Twin roles – accountability and improvement
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Fully independent of government
800 staff – some 400 qualified accountant
450 Financial Audits
60 VFM reports – agreed report
Wide range of other products
Accountability cycle
Supporting the PAC
Key groups in the process
NAO
C&AG
Clerk’s Office
Public Accounts
Committee
Clerk
Chair
Assistants
Committee
Parliamentary
Relations
VFM line teams
Parliamentary Relations Team
Executive Leader
Director
Executive Assistant
2 x Audit Managers
3 x Audit Principals / Senior Analysts
Band 2
Chair’s Liaison
Parliamentary Relations Team
Wider
Support to
Parliament
PAC
Other
Support to PAC &
advice to NAO
Support to Select
Committees &
advice to NAO
Parliamentary
bulletin
PAC programme
Engaging with
Parliament
Recommendations
database
PAC briefings and
reports
Departmental
overviews
Treasury Minutes
Parliamentary
monitoring
Chair’s Liaison Role
A 6 month role which provides the Chair with a direct line to the
NAO and support in her work.
• Providing oral and written briefings to the Chair on NAO outputs
• Informing NAO of issues of interest to the Chair.
• Preparing press notices, speeches, magazine articles, key
messages and approaches for PAC media engagements.
• Advising the PAC Chair on policy and political climate in advance
of PAC hearings.
• Identifying and addressing issues in the PAC programme, with
witnesses, NAO and PAC outputs.
Creating the PAC Programme
PRT start
planning
for next
session
Programme
confirmed
PRT gather
‘onepagers’
PAC discuss
and amend
PRT submit
suggested
programme
to PAC
The PAC Programme
• The Chair and Members can suggest additional hearings
which are not based on reports we produce:
– Personal interests or requests by MPs/constituents
– Evidence from whistleblowers
e.g. Off payroll payments
– Information brought to light by previous hearings
e.g. HMRC Tax Settlements
– Public interest
e.g. Welfare to Work
Release of report
• Embargoed NAO press release sent to media
and selected MPs
• Chair may produce additional press release
• Press conference and interviews
Pre hearing timetable
Pre-strategy
meeting
Team working
on brief
PAC strategy
meeting
1 week after
2 weeks after
3 weeks after
Draft brief to PRT
Draft brief to
C&AG
Final brief to
Clerk
The Hearing
(Below is for Monday hearings. Wednesdays begin an hour earlier )
• 14:30 – Private briefing with Chair (Chair’s Office)
• 15:00 – Private session (Committee Room 15)
– Discussion of PAC issues
– Deliberation of reports
– Introduction to report topic and tactics
• 15:15 – Public evidence session (Committee Room 15)
– Expert witnesses
– Accountable witnesses
The Private Session
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Led by Chair
Study Director will give opening message
Discussion of upcoming witnesses
Discussion of PAC programme changes
Other PAC business
PAC report deliberation & agreement
The Public Session
• Usually split into two witness sessions:
– Experts in the area
– Senior Responsible Officers
• Committee takes evidence from first and holds
second accountable.
• Attended by C&AG, study Director & Gaby Cohen
(front bench), study team (back bench), Chair’s
liaison, Clerk & Clerk’s staff.
• NAO may clarify points or even ask questions.
The Public Session
• Depending on public interest, may be well
attended by public & media. This takes into
account the attention received by the NAO
report, the actions of PAC members in
Parliament or media, other MPs’ actions or
what is simply in the public eye at the time.
• Members’ engagement varies.
• PRT lead will watch hearing online & produce
note.
Post-hearing timetable
Morning after
2 days after
1 week after
2 weeks after
3 weeks after
Key points of
hearing
meeting
Note of hearing
to Chair
Draft summary,
conclusion and
recommendations
to PRT
Draft report to
PRT
Draft report to
PAC Chair
All pre and post hearing meetings are organised by the PRT EA but will be arranged from
different calendars.
Post PAC Report
• NAO monitors government’s response
(Treasury Minute)
• Reports on response to PAC
• NAO assesses impact of report – especially
financial impact.
Example of a financial impact
• We published reports on central government’s use of
consultants, in 2006 and 2010.
• In response to the 2006 report, the Cabinet Office set up a
Professional Services Procurement Board (which the NAO sat
on), and developed new guidance and controls over the use
of consultants.
• As a result of these controls, spending on consultants reduced
by £645 million in 2010-11.
• It is accepted that our sustained work on government's use of
consultants since 2006 was of significant influence in driving
this saving.
• We claimed an impact of £322.5m in 2011 as a result
An effective partnership?
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Bit like marriage needs to be worked on
NAO invests heavily in making it work
Recognise different powers and roles
Collective strength
PAC which is apolitical, consensual, and high
status
• Government which takes its reports seriously