Government, politics and administration

The public service funding challenge

'Wales must change and innovate if it is to deliver in a harsh financial climate', says new Auditor General

16/03/2010

 PDF icon

ReportClick here to download the report - A Picture of Public Services 

  Click here to view the press release
   

Improving Public Sector Efficiency
Good Practice Checklist for Public Bodies

Innovation and efficiency, Good Practice Exchange

Lean and Systems Thinking in the
Public Sector in Wales
, Lean Enterprise Research Centre



The public sector in Wales needs to work in radically different ways if it is to respond to the downturn and sustain and improve the quality of services and their impact. A report, published today by the new Auditor General for Wales, predicts that, over three years from April 2011, there could be a total cut in funding for Welsh public services of around £1.5 billion.

Today's report highlights the key issues facing public services in Wales and sheds light on the lessons learned in the five years since the Wales Audit Office was created. The Wales Audit Office's work covers most public services in Wales so it is in a unique position to be able to look across the public services and highlight the common challenges and opportunities that public bodies need to address and take account of in the future.

Over recent years, spending on public services has risen substantially. The work of the Wales Audit Office shows a story of incremental improvement in Welsh public services over the past five years. But significant progress is still needed and this trend of gradual improvement will not be enough in the future. Major reductions in budgets and rising demand for services mean that a much more radical approach will be required. 

Click here for the full press release 

Previous article

Next article