The document discusses four pervasive issues with public spending: conflicting priorities, ignoring inconvenient facts, things being "out of sight and out of mind", and not learning from mistakes. It provides examples of government departments that have improved handling conflicting priorities and not ignoring inconvenient facts. The director of the National Audit Office concludes by thanking the audience and providing contact information.

1. 1
10 September
Spending public money wisely
Max Tse, Director at National Audit Office

2. 2
OBR spending projections
Forecast
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
1920-21 1930-31 1940-41 1950-51 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2020-21
PercentofGDP
Current receipts
Total managed expenditure
Source: Bankof England,ONS, OBR
Total public sector spending and receipts

3. 3
Recent changes

4. 4
Conflicting priorities Ignoring inconvenient facts
Out of sight, out of mind Not learning from mistakes
Four pervasive issues
4 pervasive issues

5. 5
Conflicting priorities Ignoring inconvenient facts
Out of sight, out of mind Not learning from mistakes
Four pervasive issues
4 pervasive issues

6. 6
Handling conflicting priorities
Department for International Development – Financial Management (2011)
“The Department has improved its core financial management and has an
ambitious programme underway to improve its focus on value for money.”
Strategic flood risk management – Environment Agency (2014)
“In the face of increasing flood risk in England and pressure on defences, the
Environment Agency has improved the cost effectiveness and prioritization of its
flood risk spending.”

7. 7
Conflicting priorities Ignoring inconvenient facts
Out of sight, out of mind Not learning from mistakes
Four pervasive issues
4 pervasive issues

8. 8
Not ignoring inconvenient facts
 Transparent about the limitations of assumptions
 Identify and monitor critical assumptions
 Work through the consequences of variation
 Tackle barriers and complications

9. 9
Conflicting priorities Ignoring inconvenient facts
Out of sight, out of mind Not learning from mistakes
Four pervasive issues
4 pervasive issues

10. 10
Sustainability

11. 11
Conflicting priorities Ignoring inconvenient facts
Out of sight, out of mind Not learning from mistakes
Four pervasive issues
4 pervasive issues

12. 12
Lessons from recent welfare reforms

13. 13
Thank you
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Please contact Max Tse with any further questions
max.tse@nao.gsi.gov.uk