We recently announced upcoming reports, including:
• Digital ID: insights to inform government’s approach
• Integrating patient records: laying the foundations for a more productive NHS
• Prevent
• BBC efficiency and transformation programme
Find out more ⤵️
https://www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/
Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme Eligible claimants: Current and former subpostmasters whose criminal convictions were deemed to have been malicious and were overturned by legislation Expected number of eligible claimants: Around 700 Number of claims received: 490 Number of claims paid: 463 Average wait time for settled claim: 81 working days Average payment per claim: £600,000 Total paid out as of February 2026: £295 million Expected total compensation (across all 4 Horizon Compensation Schemes): £1.8 billion
Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Eligible claimants: NHS patients who became infected through receiving contaminated blood transfusions or products, and those affected such as family members and carers Expected number of eligible claimants: Around 51,000 (IBCA estimate) Number of claims received: 3,546 Number of claims paid: 2,861 Average wait time for settled claim: 39 days Average payment per claim: £660,000 Total paid out as of February 2026: £1.89 billion Expected final pay out: £12.8 billion
Windrush Compensation Scheme Eligible claimants: Members of the Windrush generation and their families who incurred losses due to difficulties proving their legal immigration status in the UK Expected number of eligible claimants: 11,500 to 14,500 Number of claims received: 11,475 Number of claims resolved: 3,148 payouts, and 5,203 nil awards Average wait time for settled claim: 5 months Average payment per claim: £32,100 Total paid out as of February 2026: £124.2 million Expected final pay out: £156 million to £243 million
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Eligible claimants: LGBT veterans of the UK Armed Forces who were dismissed or discharged because of the pre-2000 ban on homosexuality and those negatively affected by the ban Expected number of eligible claimants: 1,600-2,000 Number of claims received: 2,113 from 1,366 veterans Number of claims paid: 996 Average wait time for settled claim: 6 to 10 months Average payment per claim: Dismissed or Discharged Payment is fixed at £50,000. Impact Payment average is £9,700. Total paid out as of February 2026: £36.4 million Expected final pay out: £75 million
Government compensation schemes, including those for Windrush and Infected Blood, are making progress in handling claims and processing pay-outs. But there is more to do to identify all eligible claimants and minimise delays.
Read our report: https://ow.ly/R15W50YJNxq
Complexities with shared ownership mean customers can get caught out by issues such as increasing service charges
Limited govt data means it’s difficult to assess the scheme’s overall performance. New @nao.org.uk report
www.independent.co.uk/money/nao-na... Full report www.nao.org.uk/reports/inve...
The Green Signals podcast is always a great listen and so it was a real pleasure to sit down for a chat about our recent @nao.org.uk report on Northern Powerhouse Rail
Links to podcast: www.greensignals.org/podcast/reme...
NAO report is on our website here: www.nao.org.uk/reports/nort...
Complexities with shared ownership mean homebuyers can get caught out by issues such as increasing service charges.
Limited government data means it’s difficult for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to assess the scheme’s overall performance.
Report: https://ow.ly/CJeS50YxZ0Y
The Financial Transaction Control Framework could help the government better manage its investments in areas such as clean energy and housing.
But it requires full implementation to ensure these financial transactions support stable public finances.
➡️ https://ow.ly/oZC250YxuFR
Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund Programme has helped to significantly increase tree planting and peatland restoration in England.
But our latest report finds that some momentum has been lost during a period of uncertainty over future plans.
Our report: https://ow.ly/QXE450YwMLS
We recently announced an upcoming report on the government finance function strategy to 2030.
Find out more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/the-gov...
Space weather, such as solar flares, can disrupt infrastructure and technology on Earth.
The government has invested in improving its forecasting capability, but there are still gaps in its preparedness which must be addressed.
Read our report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...
The government is resettling thousands of Afghans in the UK, including those who assisted its military efforts in Afghanistan.
But it must overcome challenges including a lack of available housing and poor data to successfully complete the programme.
➡️ www.nao.org.uk/reports/inve...
£377 million The Department for Business and Trade spending over 9 months to keep British Steel's Scunthorpe site operating. April 2025 to January 2026.
The Department for Business and Trade quickly intervened to save British Steel's Scunthorpe blast furnaces from closure, at a cost of £377 million between April 2025 and January 2026.
Read our full report here: nao.org.uk/reports/inve...
Poor transport links in the north of England are hampering the region's economic growth. The government's answer is Northern Powerhouse Rail.
But stronger alignment between national & local authorities is needed to ensure this programme is a success.
➡️ nao.org.uk/reports/nort...
DCMS must ensure that it has structures in place to identify early warning signs, should museums and galleries start struggling to manage their financial risks, so it can intervene early – potentially before additional funding is required. New @nao.org.uk report
www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...
Since the pandemic, DCMS sponsored museums and galleries have managed rising costs and found new ways to increase self-generated income.
But these institutions still face challenges and will need to prioritise good financial management.
Read our report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...
We recently announced an upcoming report on MoD’s repurchase of service family accommodation.
Find out more here ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/mods-re...
Governance issues, interoperability problems, and inconsistent commitments are hampering efforts to keep the government's Shared Services Programme on track. Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO
Government's Shared Services Strategy, described as critical to a 'one government' approach, is facing funding uncertainty and planning challenges.
Read our report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/update-on-government-shared-services-2026/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shared_services
You don’t hear much about efficient and effective govt so here’s a good news story in our latest @nao.org.uk report - HMRC collected an extra £16bn from the biggest businesses last year after it took a “more hands-on approach”
www.ft.com/content/c96d... (Full report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/taxi...)
The amount of additional tax revenue secured as a result of HMRC's large business directorate has doubled since 2021-22.
Read our full report here: www.nao.org.uk/reports/taxing-large-bus...
We recently announced an upcoming investigation into the financial sustainability of the British Council.
Find out more here ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/investi...
We recently announced an upcoming update on the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
Find out more here ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...
We recently announced upcoming reports, including:
• Investigation into Child Benefit anti-fraud-and-error intervention
• Lessons learned: Government workforce planning
Find out more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...
A step change in financial management in government is needed to drive better value public services
The head of @nao.org.uk gave his annual speech in Parliament yesterday, drawing on what we seen across our audits of government spending
Link to speech below
www.nao.org.uk/insights/ste...
713000 new homes the intended capacity of current MHCLG programmes to unlock land
In the past decade MHCLG allocated £10.5 billion to unlock land with capacity for 713,000 homes, with 33,300 built so far.
With £21 billion for a new National Housing Delivery Fund, success depends on setting clear aims and priorities.
Report: nao.org.uk/reports/unlo...
Here’s Gareth’s short summary of his speech in Parliament today.
You can watch the full speech or read the transcript here: www.nao.org.uk/insights/ste... 🎥📄
Quote from Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO. “Financial management isn't just about compliance; it’s how better results are delivered. This is the hearts and minds part of any change, with a clear tone from the top and a credible narrative."
Fourth, continuous improvement should be supported by both leadership and government culture.
Without this, government transformation remains difficult.
Quote from Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO. “I believe that a renewed focus on the fundementals of good financial management is needed. Our work shows that without concerted attention, we won't see the better results for taxpayers and service users that they deserve.”
Third, getting the basics of financial management right is key to delivering better services.
Quote from Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO. “If the unit cost of delivery, and the components making it up, are not well understood, it’s difficult to make sound operational decisions. How do you know where the biggest ‘bang for the buck’ is?”
Second, having relevant financial management data and information is crucial for driving efficiency. Government systems often lack the data they need to make good decisions.
Quote from Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO. “Not all departments and public bodies yet match the best for timely and high-quality accounts... The situation in local government remains a cautionary tale.”
First, Gareth lays out the importance of timely, accurate financial reporting, and highlights the challenges faced by local government.
Picture of Gareth Davies, the head of the National Audit Office. Text: C&AG Annual Speech 2026
Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, gives his annual speech in Parliament today.
He calls for a step change in government financial management, and sets out four fundamentals in improving value for money.
Follow along 👇🧵
