PSA target systems ‘flawed’
Only half the data systems used to measure progress on the government’s public service agreement (PSA) targets are fit for purpose, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
PSAs were first introduced in 1998 by the Labour government in an attempt to improve accountability but major weaknesses were identified in some data systems for the 2005-08 targets.
Of the 237 systems, the NAO found 35 per cent were broadly fit for purpose but needed strengthening and eight per cent were not fit for purpose.
For six per cent it was too early to tell while the remaining one per cent had not been established at all.
The NAO report concluded that improvements had been made in developing the data systems it used, but said the government was struggling to transfer the modifications that had been made into the establishment of new systems.
“Good quality data are essential if performance measures and targets are to be used effectively to improve public sector delivery and accountability,” NAO chief Sir John Bourn said.
“It is good news that data systems are improving, but departments must transfer these lessons to their new data systems. If we are to have confidence in the performance reported by government, all systems used to monitor it must be robust.”
Conservative shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond said prime minister Gordon Brown had pledged to only release money to government departments if their targets were met when the PSA system was set up ten years ago.
“So is it any wonder that so much public money has been wasted, when half of the data systems that measure progress against these targets are not fit for purpose?” he asked.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson was not available for comment prior to the report’s publication.
