Download or read book Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2003 Forty Third Report of Session 2003 04 Report Together with Formal Minutes Oral and Written Evidence written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2004 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Major Projects Report 2003 provides information on progress made by the Ministry of Defence in procuring major defence equipment against cost, time and technical performance targets. It covers 30 projects split, according to Smart Acquisition principles, between the 20 largest projects on which the main investment decision has been taken, and the 10 largest projects yet to reach that point. For the 20 largest projects, costs are forecast to have increased by £3.1 billion in the last year, and are now 6.1 per cent over their approved costs. Difficulties on four older projects (which predate the introduction of Smart Acquisition) account for the majority of cost and time overruns. Following on from a NAO report on this topic (HCP 195, session 2003-04; ISBN 0102926581) published in January 2004, the Committee's report examines four main issues: the impact of the large cost overruns and delays; departmental risk management; ways of developing a more constructive relationship between the Department and industry; and lessons that need to be learned to avoid such poor procurement performance being repeated in future.
Download or read book Recovery of Debt by the Inland Revenue Forty Ninth Report of Session 2003 04 Report Together with Formal Minutes Oral and Written Evidence written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2004 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Inland Revenue collects over £200 billion a year in tax and National Insurance contributions from 30 million taxpayers, ranging from individuals to multinational corporations. The total amount of debt from unpaid taxes stood at £12 billion at the end of March 2004, of which £3 billion was more than a year old. Following on from a NAO report (HCP 363, session 2003-04; ISBN 0102927596) published in March 2004, the Committee has examined the progress made by the Inland Revenue to speed up debt recovery, whether more can be done to encourage prompt payment and the application of good practice in debt management. Findings include that the Department should impose a surcharge on persistent late payers; use other government departmental records to find taxpayers it cannot trace; seek additional powers for enforcing debts similar to those of other tax authorities; and include debt management data in its performance measures.
Download or read book Ministry of Defence written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-09-11 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report from the Committee of Public Accounts provides information on the time, cost and performance of the 20 largest projects of the Ministry of Defence where the main investment decision (known as Main Gate) has been taken. This report follows on from a two volume NAO report published in November 2006 (HCP 23-I/23-II, 06/07 - ISBNs 9780102943740; 9780102943733), into the major projects of the Ministry of Defence. Evidence was taken by the Committee based on the NAO report, covering three main issues: the impact of the cost saving measures identified by the Departmental reviews in 2005-06; the performance of individual projects; the Department's initiatives to improve acquisition performance. The Department undertook a review of the 20 post-Main Gate projects, which reduced costs by £781 million. With £91 million a HM Revenue & Customs rebate, and £242 million the result of better management of commercial and contractual arrangements. But, £448 million of the costs were reclassified as expenditure in other procurement or support budgets or towards corporate management. The re-allocations have, according to the Committee, achieved cost reductions for individual projects, but do not represent a saving for the Department as a whole. Total forecast costs for the approved projects amounts to £27 billion, some 11% over budget. Forecast in-service dates slipped 33 months in-year, and there is a cumulative delay of 433 months for projects over their lives so far. The Department is now placing increased emphasis on through life management of Defence projects, involving the life-cycle management of the projects, services and activities.
Download or read book Index to Chairmen written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The South Eastern Passenger Rail Franchise written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-05-11 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In June 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority announced that it would be terminating the Connex South Eastern franchise for passenger rail services in Kent, parts of Sussex and South East London; the first, and so far only, instance where a train operating company's franchise has been terminated early. Following on from a National Audit Office report (HCP 457, session 2005-06; ISBN 0102936498) published in December 2005, the Committee's report examines why the franchise experienced difficulties; why the contract was terminated, and the impact on the interests of the taxpayer. The report sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations on the lessons to be learned in order to reduce the risk of future franchise failures.
Download or read book Corporation Tax written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-06-29 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Companies resident or conducting business in the UK are liable to pay corporation tax on their profits, and since 1999 corporation tax is a self-assessed tax. Companies are required to submit tax returns each year along with any tax due, and these tax returns are then checked for non-compliance. In 2004-05, HM Revenue and Customs collected about £33 billion in corporation tax, and it expects receipts to increase to £42 billion in 2005-06. Following on from a National Audit Office report (HC 678, session 2005-06; ISBN 0102936641) published in January 2006, the Committee's report examines the management of Corporation Tax and sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations. Given an estimated 40 per cent error rate in tax returns, the Department should improve its targeting of enquiries into tax returns for non-compliance and its use of risk assessment techniques in order to increase the tax yield. Plans to restructure the local area office network should help reduce local variations in performance and improve efficiency in enquiry work. All companies will be required to file their tax returns electronically by 2010, and this system should realise a number of benefits, including greater convenience for companies and a reduction in Department's costs and errors in keying-in data.
Download or read book NHS Local Improvement Finance Trusts written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-04 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Health launched the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) in 2000 to address long-standing under-investment in primary care facilities. It is a form of Public-Private Partnership with a national joint venture, Partnerships in Health, that oversees and invests in it. The total capital value of the first tranche of buildings was £711 million and the average cost of a building was £5 million. 90% of the capital is provided by debt and the properties are owned by the LIFTCo, with income being generated by rent payments from tenants such as GPs, Primary Care Trust, pharmacies and the local authority. This report examines whether the programme has been implemented effectively.
Download or read book National Offender Management Service written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-06-06 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The prison population in England and Wales has been increasing since the 1990s and by November 2005 it reached a record level of 77,800, resulting in increased levels of overcrowding and stretched resources. Following on from a NAO report (HC 458, session 2005-06 (ISBN 0102935696) published in October 2005, the Committee's report examines how the Home Office, the Prison Service and the National Offender Management Service (which has responsibility for managing and accommodating prisoners) are dealing with the challenges involved in accommodating this record number of prisoners, the construction and use of temporary accommodation and the impact on the delivery of education and other training for prisoners. The Committee makes a number of conclusions and recommendations including in relation to: the deportation of foreign nationals, the use of alternatives to remand such as electronic tagging, contingency planning to ensure greater flexibility in accommodation plans including pilot testing new accommodation to identify possible problems early on, the application of best practice in anti-suicide monitoring measures, and the impact of moving prisoners around the prison estate on their training needs.
Download or read book The Stationery Office Annual Catalogue written by Stationery Office (Great Britain) and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 780 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Delivering Front Line Capability to the RAF written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-01-18 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report examines of the progress being made in implementing MoDs decisions regarding the future support of military aircraft - maintenance lines being reduced to "forward" and "depth" - and the implications of these decisions for the Defence Aviation and Repair Agency (DARA). For fast jet aircraft (Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4), depth support will transfer from DARA St Athan, South Wales, where it is carried out largely by civilian tradesmen, to RAF Main Operating Bases where it will be carried out by RAF tradesmen supplemented by tradesmen from the aircraft manufacturer. For rotary wing aircraft (helicopters), depth support will, by contrast, be provided at DARA Fleetlands, Hampshire, by RAF tradesmen and DARA civilian tradesmen. The Committee is concerned that these inconsistent arrangements will not be sustainable over the long term. The new arrangements for support carry risks: the long term sustainability of efficiency programmes; potential over-dependency on industry, and the capability of the RAFs new support processes to meet surge demands. The Committee recommends an independent audit of the Harrier programme, to ensure that the support is being provided in a more efficient and cost effective manner than before. The future of DARA is uncertain: some of its businesses are to be closed down; others are to be market tested. The prospects for the DARA St Athan site, including its recently completed Superhangar facility costing over £100m, are in particular doubt. The Committee finds incomprehensible MoDs decision to go ahead with building the Superhangar at a time when it was reviewing its logistic support provision, and recommends an investigation by the National Audit Office and the Wales Audit Office.
Download or read book Future Carrier and Joint Combat Aircraft Programmes written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-12-21 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Ministry of Defence plans to replace the Royal Navy's current strength of three aircraft carriers with two larger, more versatile carriers capable of carrying a more powerful force, including new aircraft to replace the Harrier. This report analyses the progress of the Future Carrier and related Joint Combat Aircraft programmes. There is a serious risk that the two carriers will not enter service in 2012 and 2015 as planned, due to delays in investment decision-making. The novel 'Alliance' between MoD and three commercial companies has not yet been finalised. Delays are already impacting UK shipyards, and threatening jobs and the survival of the yards.The Joint Strike Fighter, a US-led programme, is the aircraft of choice for the new carriers, but there are unresolved weight problems. The target In-Service Date has been put back from 2012 to 2014, so it is possible that the new carrier would be operational (in 2012) before the new aircraft is available. There must be adequate assurances that the UK will have access to all the relevant technology (the 'Sovereign Capability') to enable maintenance and upgrading of new aircraft. Otherwise, the UK should consider withdrawing from the Fighter programme.
Download or read book Ministry of Defence written by Great Britain. Parliament House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008-07-22 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The National Audit Office report on this topic published as HCP 98-I, session 2007-08 (ISBN 9780102951486)
Download or read book Ministry of Defence written by Great Britain. Parliament House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Ministry of Defence written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-06-30 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to deploy troops in key military operations at short notice, the Ministry of Defence employs a system known as the Urgent Operational Requirements. The purpose of this method is to provide speedy and flexible procurement of capabilities, and it has been a major feature of UK recent military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Following on from an NAO report (HCP 1161, session 2003-04, ISBN 0102930589) published in November 2004, the Committee's report focuses on three main issues: the importance of identifying and costing likely Urgent Operational Requirements; improvements to the way the MoD captures data on the process and outcomes, and the scope to apply lessons from Urgent Operational Requirements to the regular procurement programme.
Download or read book Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2003 Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General HC 195 Session 2003 2004 23 January 2004 written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Development Assistance in Iraq Interim Report written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. International Development Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is part of a general inquiry into development assistance in Iraq. Due to the dissolution of Parliament, the report is limited to oral and written evidence. The Committee has set the following objectives: to determine how successfully the Department of International Development has spent its' funds; also examining the roles of the multilateral organizations within Iraq; the effectiveness of the coordination of service provision; the situation as regards the security environment and provision for humanitarian relief; the transition from humanitarian relief to reconstruction and development in Iraq. A number of Committee members visited Iraq to assess the overall situation, and collect information, but there was limited availability of analyses and evaluations of the development assistance programme. The Committee hopes to continue the work in the next parliament.
Download or read book Ministry of Defence written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Major Projects Report 2008 provides information on the time, cost and performance of 20 of the largest military equipment projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, where the main investment decision has been taken, as well as the top 10 projects in the earlier Assessment Phase. In the last year, the 20 biggest projects suffered a further £205 million of cost increases, and 96 months additional slippage. This is the worst in-year slippage since 2003. The total forecast costs for these projects have now risen to nearly £28 billion, some 12 per cent over budget. Total slippage stands at over 40 years, a 36 per cent increase on approved timescales. The number of Key User Requirements reported as being "at risk" of not being met has also increased from 12 to 16 in the last year. This is a disappointing set of results, particularly because the problems are being caused by previously identified failures such as poor project management, a lack of realism, not identifying key dependencies and underestimating of costs and timescales. The reoccurrence of these problems suggests that the Department's latest acquisition reforms, introduced in 2001, are not yet resulting in the Department making better investment decisions or improving the execution of its defence projects. Project delays also have a detrimental impact on operational capability and costs, in some cases forcing the Department to buy interim vehicles and continue using equipment suffering from obsolescence in Afghanistan and either older Hercules aircraft will have to serve beyond their planned out of service date, or other transport aircraft will have to be bought or leased to address a growing gap in capability.
