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National Audit Office
@nao.org.uk
430 followers 490 following 170 posts
We're the NAO, the UK's independent public spending watchdog. We help Parliament hold government to account.

Stay updated with our latest work here.

https://linktr.ee/nationalauditoffice
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nao.org.uk
The New Hospital Programme now has a more realistic timetable, with final hospitals due in 2045–46.

But for RAAC-affected hospitals, a tight construction schedule with little contingency for delays means there are significant delivery risks.

Our report: nao.org.uk/reports/upda...
Update on the New Hospital Programme - NAO report
The NAO has published an update on the New Hospital Programme following government's decision to reset the programme.
nao.org.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:20 AM
nao.org.uk
Our 2024-25 BBC overview looks at:

• where and how the BBC Public Service Broadcasting spent £4.5 billion
• an update on BBC audience figures
• what to look out for, such as the review of the BBC's Royal Charter

Read our overview for more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and the BBC 2024-25 - NAO overview
Our overview of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and the BBC for 2024-25.
www.nao.org.uk
January 15, 2026 at 9:54 AM
nao.org.uk
Our 2024-25 Department for Culture, Media & Sport overview looks at:

• where & how DCMS spent £7.6 billion
• DCMS sectors’ contribution to the UK economy
• what to look out for, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Read our overview for more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and the BBC 2024-25 - NAO overview
Our overview of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and the BBC for 2024-25.
www.nao.org.uk
January 15, 2026 at 9:40 AM
nao.org.uk
As Defra, the Environment Agency and @naturalengland.bsky.social embark on a period of reform they face several challenges.

Our new report has recommendations to help them make new environmental regulation reforms a success.

Read our report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/envi...
"Defra and the regulators are working to improve how they regulate, including in response to recent major reviews. Success will depend on taking a sufficiently strategic approach and sticking to the course set." Gareth Davies, Comptroller & Auditor General, National Audit Office
January 9, 2026 at 9:13 AM
nao.org.uk
The total net expenditure for the Cabinet Office in 2024-25 was nearly £11 billion, with infected blood compensation payments being the largest cost.

Read our full overview here 👇
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/ca...
Cabinet Office 2024-25 - NAO overview
The Cabinet Office had a total net expenditure of nearly £11 billion in 2024-25.
www.nao.org.uk
January 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
nao.org.uk
We recently announced upcoming reports, including:

• Update on Crown Estate’s arrangements for Royal residential leases
• Upgrading the electricity transmission network

Find out more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/
Work in progress - National Audit Office
Our schedule of future publications.
www.nao.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
nao.org.uk
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports businesses to invest, grow and export, and create jobs and opportunities.

In 2024-25, it spent £2.15 billion (including financing).

Read our overview of DBT⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
Department for Business and Trade 2024-25 - NAO overview
The Department for Business and Trade is a department for economic growth. In 2024-25, DBT spent a total of £2.15 billion in net expenditure.
www.nao.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
nao.org.uk
Our overview of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) looks at:

• where DSIT spends its money
• its future spending commitments
• its priorities for 2025-26
• the government’s approach to cyber security
• managing risk to support innovation

⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology 2024-25 - NAO overview
Our overview of DSIT for 2024-25 looks at the department's priorities, and where it spent £14.2 billion last year.
www.nao.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 7:16 AM
nao.org.uk
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency is facing challenges in addressing long wait times for practical driving tests.

Wait times were at 22 weeks in September 2025, and the target of 7 weeks is not expected to be hit until November 2027.

Our report 👇
www.nao.org.uk/reports/inve...
Investigation into car driving test waiting times - NAO report
Failure to resolve the problem of long waiting times for car practical driving tests has exposed underlying issues at DVSA
www.nao.org.uk
December 17, 2025 at 7:20 AM
nao.org.uk
Our latest overview of the Ministry of Defence looks at:

• the MoD's ambitions as set out in the Strategic Defence Review
• financial management and the qualification of the 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts
• its management of major projects

Read our overview⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/mi...
Ministry of Defence 2024-25 - NAO overview
MoD spent £52.7 billion on running costs in 2024-25. This includes staff costs, maintaining military equipment & Defence estate management.
www.nao.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
nao.org.uk
The C&AG has provided a clean opinion on the Department for Health & Social Care financial statements for the first time since 2018-19.

Read more⬇️
www.nao.org.uk/reports/depa...
2024-25 Financial Audits: Department for Health & Social Care
December 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
nao.org.uk
The @bankofengland.bsky.social navigated complex risks to deliver its Real-Time Gross Settlement renewal programme. The Bank's successful delivery achieved:

✅ value for money
✅ good practice in digital transformation
✅ lessons for other major projects

Our report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/bank...
December 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
nao.org.uk
Our 2024-25 overview of Defra looks at:

• where and how Defra spent £5.5bn and its future spending commitments
• Defra's progress on its five priority outcomes
• our insights into Defra's financial management, productivity and resilience

Read ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
https://www.nao.org.uk/overviews/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs-2024-25/]
December 11, 2025 at 10:05 AM
nao.org.uk
Short-term fixes in the asylum system have shifted pressures - creating new backlogs, wasting public funds and harming life chances.

We’ve mapped the asylum system to show where delays occur, and set out 4 requirements for an effective system.

Report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/an-a...
An analysis of the asylum system - NAO report
We’ve mapped the asylum system to show where delays occur, and set out four requirements for an effective system.
www.nao.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
nao.org.uk
We recently announced an upcoming report on the resilience of the UK food supply chain to disruptions.

Find out more here ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...
Resilience of the UK food supply chain to disruptions  - NAO work in progress
This study will examine whether Defra is taking effective action to ensure the UK food supply chain is resilient to shocks and disruptions.
www.nao.org.uk
December 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
nao.org.uk
GPs don't provide enough support for people diagnosed with frailty.
 
Just 1 in 6 patients aged 65+ were assessed for frailty in 2024-25. We recommend @england.nhs.uk sets out clear & consistent requirements to assess & support people living with frailty.
 
➡️ www.nao.org.uk/reports/prim...
December 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
nao.org.uk
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) leads the UK's diplomatic, development and consular work around the world.

In 2024-25, FCDO spent £12.5 billion against a budget of £12.9 billion, a 3% increase on last year.

Read our overview of FCDO here ⬇️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/fo...
https://www.nao.org.uk/overviews/foreign-commonwealth-development-office-2024-25/]
December 4, 2025 at 9:53 AM
nao.org.uk
Our 2024-25 Ministry of Justice overview looks at:

• where & how MoJ spent £15.5 billion
• the increasing demand for justice services
• performance and productivity across the department

Read our overview for more ⤵️

www.nao.org.uk/overviews/mi...
www.nao.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
nao.org.uk
The government is implementing new annual climate-related reporting requirements in central government, aiming to improve transparency and accountability.

Our new report has recommendations to support the implementation of these new requirements.

Report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/impl...
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
nao.org.uk
We recently announced upcoming reports, including:

• Electronic monitoring: responding to increasing demand
• Investigation into shared ownership
• FCDO’s response to humanitarian crises 

Find out more ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...
Work in progress - National Audit Office
Our schedule of future publications.
www.nao.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
nao.org.uk
Our 2024-25 overview of the Department for Work & Pensions looks at:

• where & how DWP spent £298bn
• estimated levels of benefit overpayments, including Carer's Allowance
• our insights into DWP's financial management, productivity & resilience

Read our overview ⤵️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/de...
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
nao.org.uk
We've published our latest overview of Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

In 2024-25, MHCLG spent £46.2 billion, of which:
• £34 billion was allocated to Local Government
• £12 billion was allocated to Housing and Communities

Read more ⬇️
www.nao.org.uk/overviews/mi...
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government 2024-25 - NAO overview
In 2024-25, MHCLG reported net operating expenditure of £46.2 billion. Our overview of MHCLG for 2024-25 shows where that money was spent.
www.nao.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
nao.org.uk
Government doesn't know how departments are using consultants, or how much they cost, which could delay ambitions to spend less on external consultants.

Our lessons learned report: www.nao.org.uk/insights/gov...
Good practice guide on working with consultants: www.nao.org.uk/insights/usi...
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
nao.org.uk
We recently announced upcoming reports, including:

• Resilience of the UK food supply chain to disruptions
• Financial audit insights 2025

Find out more ⬇️
www.nao.org.uk/work-in-prog...
Work in progress - National Audit Office
Our schedule of future publications.
www.nao.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
nao.org.uk
BBC World Service has made savings of £47m since 2022, following spending reductions across the entire BBC.

These savings have mainly been made through TV and radio closures, which has contributed to audience numbers falling by 52 million.

Report: www.nao.org.uk/reports/the-...
November 19, 2025 at 8:13 AM