Cost reduction in central government: summary of progress
REPORT BY THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL
HC 1788
SESSION 2010-2012
2 FEBRUARY 2012
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Cabinet Office and HM Treasury
Cost reduction in central government: summary of progress
Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely.
We apply the unique perspective of public audit to help Parliament and government drive lasting improvement in public services.
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The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Amyas Morse, is an Officer of the House of Commons. He is the head of the NAO, which employs some 880 staff. He and the NAO are totally independent of government. He certifies the accounts of all government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies have used their resources. Our work led to savings and other efficiency gains worth more than £1 billion in 2010-11.
Cabinet Office and HM Treasury
Cost reduction in central government:
summary of progress
| Ordered by the House of Commons Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General London: The Stationery Office | This report has been prepared under Section 6 of the National Audit Act 1983 for presentation to the House of Commons in accordance with Section 9 of the Act. Amyas Morse Comptroller and Auditor General National Audit Office 30 January 2012 |
The Government's spending plans require most government departments to reduce their spending in real terms over the years to 2014‑15. Over the period from 2011‑12 to 2014‑15, the budgets of departments other than Health and International Development are falling by 19 per cent in real terms.
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| The National Audit Office study team consisted of: Keith Davis, Sandy Gordon, Sarah Lawrence, Tom Wallace and Josh Weinberg This report can be found on the National Audit Office website at www.nao.org.uk/cost‑reduction‑2012 | For further information about the National Audit Office Tel: 020 7798 7400 Email: enquiries@nao.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.nao.org.uk Twitter: @NAOorguk |