Government wasting money on ineffective training

The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned government departments that they are wasting money on training that is "ineffective in meeting departmental business needs".

In its latest report, called Identifying and meeting central government's skills requirements, the body said that rather than arming staff with skills to enable them to act as providers of services, they should focus on the skills necessary to commission services adequately.

The report was published after the Cabinet Office released its own Open Public Services White Paper, which sets out how the government should improve public services.

"[The government] should set metrics for measuring success [in outsourcing] as well as hold providers to account," said Martyn Hart, chairman of the NAO.

"The NAO report highlights that government will need advice, training and support before it is fit to deliver the accountability that the taxpayer deserves – accountability being a cornerstone of yesterday's Open Public Services whitepaper."

He added that other core principles of the whitepaper include increased diversity and choice of providers as well as decentralisation of purchasing power to the lowest possible level, which would lead to an increase in the procurement of outsourced services.

"To get the maximum value for the taxpayer – the new kingmakers will need to be fully trained in how to get the best out of outsourcing contracts. This can only happen as a result of keeping close tabs on the agreed metrics."