supporting the pac: the role of the nao david goldsworthy international manager...
TRANSCRIPT
xxxxxxIn 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
• 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 PACKey groups in the process
NAO
C&AG
Parliamentary Relations
VFM line teams
Clerk’s Office
Clerk
Assistants
Public Accounts Committee
Chair
Committee
Parliamentary Relations Team
Executive LeaderDirectorExecutive Assistant2 x Audit Managers3 x Audit Principals / Senior AnalystsBand 2Chair’s Liaison
Parliamentary Relations Team Support to PAC & advice to NAO
PAC programme
PAC briefings and reports
Treasury Minutes
PAC
Support to Select Committees & advice to NAO
Engaging with Parliament
Departmental overviews
Parliamentary monitoring
Wider Support to
Parliament
Parliamentary bulletin
Recommendations database
Other
Chair’s Liaison RoleA 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.
PRT start planning for next session
PRT gather ‘one-pagers’
PRT submit suggested
programme to PAC
PAC discuss and amend
Programme confirmed
Creating 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
The PAC Programme
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
Draft brief to PRT
2 weeks after
Draft brief to C&AG
3 weeks after
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
• 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.
Morning after
Key points of hearing meeting
2 days after
Note of hearing to Chair
1 week after
Draft summary, conclusion and
recommendations to PRT
2 weeks after
Draft report to PRT
3 weeks after
Draft report to PAC Chair
Post-hearing timetable
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?
• 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