Lessons learned: a planning and spending framework that enables long-term value for money HM Treasury and Cabinet Office (27 October 2024)

Summary

To deliver value for money over the medium to long term, a government needs to turn its objectives into outcomes in a way that delivers the best value for every pound of taxpayers’ money while managing its fiscal position. It needs to:

• plan and prioritise its spending (and other activities) to address those objectives.
• monitor and manage both costs and value delivered.
• evaluate the results.
• adjust as necessary.
• report to Parliament on how it has used taxpayers’ money.

This report by the National Audit Office aims to provide useful insights as officials and ministers are making changes to the planning and spending framework. It will also be useful to Parliamentarians and stakeholders seeking to scrutinise government spending and delivery.