National Audit Office
Coverage of National Audit Office in the Nexus archive.
- UK.gov vows to cut consultancy spending, then hands up to £350M to consultancies
The UK Home Office awarded Deloitte and PA Consulting contracts worth up to £350 million for data analytics services, contradicting the government's pledge to reduce consultancy spending. New controls were introduced to save £1.2 billion by 2026, but oversight gaps and non-compliance by departments have been highlighted by watchdogs and committees.
- HS2's latest reset ditches autonomous train tech to get project back on track
HS2 has abandoned autonomous train operation (ATO) technology and reduced the maximum speed of its railway from 360 km/h to 320 km/h as part of a cost-saving and schedule-stabilization reset. The changes, recommended by HS2 Ltd and endorsed by the Department for Transport, aim to save £1-2.5 billion and accelerate the project's completion, though the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of uncertain savings and reduced long-term benefits.
- HMRC scheme that wrongly cut child benefits did not ‘adequately consider’ impact, report finds
An HMRC anti-fraud initiative that suspended child benefits for 23,000 families failed to 'adequately consider' its impact, according to a National Audit Office report. The decision was based on flight records from the Home Office suggesting claimants had emigrated.
- Pause HS2 reset until you are confident it can be delivered, NAO tells ministers
The National Audit Office (NAO) advises ministers to pause the revised HS2 high-speed rail project until the government can confidently deliver it, to avoid repeating past costly failures.
- Bank of China used disguised mutual funds to avoid paying US$348m in taxes, audit finds
Bank of China evaded 2.37 billion yuan (US$348 million) in taxes by misusing preferential treatment for publicly offered mutual funds between April 2023 and August 2025, according to a National Audit Office report. The audit found the bank used disguised mutual fund structures to avoid paying taxes, as Beijing intensifies financial compliance efforts.
- MPs warned over soaring cost of delaying work on UK parliament
MPs have been warned about the rising cost of delaying repairs to the UK parliament. The National Audit Office states the Palace of Westminster is in urgent need of repairs estimated at £11bn.
- How much rent should a royal pay?
A National Audit Office report disclosed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received rental income while King Charles paid below-market rent for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The situation highlights the monarchy's challenge in maintaining public relevance despite no legal issues being indicated.
- UK Treasury still deciding whether to show up to £1.7B ERP program it agreed to fund
The UK Treasury has not yet decided to join the government's £1.7 billion ERP program, despite funding it for five years. Delays in the Matrix cluster's rollout have pushed back the Treasury's decision until December 2026, as it awaits documentation to assess the feasibility and cost of migrating from Oracle Fusion to Workday's cloud-based software.
- Home Office ditches legacy asylum database, keeps the spreadsheets
The UK Home Office has decommissioned the 25-year-old Case Information Database (CID) for asylum cases but continues to rely on spreadsheets and disconnected systems, according to a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report. The transition to the Atlas system has not resolved data fragmentation, with officials struggling to track cases, identify backlogs, or share information between the Home Office and HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
- Calls for inquiry into ‘all royal finances’ after Andrew subletting revelations
Campaigners are demanding a public inquiry into royal finances after the National Audit Office revealed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received undisclosed income from subletting three cottages at Royal Lodge while paying a 'peppercorn rent'. The report noted the rental income went to him but stated the exact rent amount remains unknown.
- Peer ‘shocked’ that watchdog has not established Andrew’s property income
Margaret Hodge expressed shock that the public spending watchdog had not determined income from property subletting by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She raised concerns about the use of taxpayers' money following revelations about the former prince's property activities.
- Auditors shine light on UK royal housing, disgraced Andrew’s ‘peppercorn rent’
King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor held leases for 10 properties, with three sublet, while the monarch pays rent for the former prince’s daughters’ palace homes, according to a National Audit Office report. The report revealed some royal property leases were based on commercial valuations, while others involved negligible or no rent payments.
- Andrew sublet three cottages while paying ‘peppercorn rent’ to crown estate
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a 'peppercorn rent' to the crown estate, according to a report by the National Audit Office. The report also found King Charles pays an 'adjusted' rent for his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, to reside in royal palaces.
- UK nuclear investors get 'high' returns for lower risk than consumers, who also foot the bill
The UK's £38.2 billion Sizewell C nuclear reactor will provide investors with high returns and low risk exposure while consumers face annual bill increases of £19-£21. The National Audit Office warns that the financing structure relies on assumptions about cost increases and requires close monitoring of risks to taxpayers and consumers.
- Spending watchdog warns £38bn cost of Sizewell C nuclear plant is ‘risky’
The UK government's £38bn nuclear plant in Suffolk has a cost subject to significant uncertainty and may outweigh benefits until at least 2064. The National Audit Office warns of considerable but uncertain potential benefits and immediate substantial risks borne by the public. The Sizewell C nuclear plant's risks are deemed higher than its benefits.