Public-accounts-committee - Page 1

Latest Public Accounts Committee

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Hundreds of children failed by 'dysfunctional' care system

By William Eichler | 16 January 2026

Hundreds of vulnerable children in England are being placed for months in illegal, unregistered homes, according to a report from the Public Accounts Committee.

NCASC

Profit cap on children's placement providers 'won't be worth the paper it's written on'

By Ann McGauran | 27 November 2025

Any profit cap on providers of children’s placements in England ‘won’t be worth the paper it’s wr...

NCASC

Counting care costs

By Ann McGauran | 27 November 2025

Councils continue to face steep rises in the cost of care in both children and adult services. As...

POLICY AND POLITICS

Reorganisation financial risk warning

By Martin Ford | 17 October 2025

Local government reorganisation has been highlighted as a key concern by the Public Accounts Comm...

PLANNING

PAC: 'Drought of planners' is 'serious problem'

17 October 2025

MPs are ‘unconvinced’ the Government is addressing the ‘lack of staffing capacity and capability ...

TRANSFORMATION

ICBs may be given longer to make redundancies, says NHS chief

By Lee Peart | 11 September 2025

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) may be given longer to make redundancies due to an impasse over fun...

DEVOLUTION

EXCLUSIVE: Fresh law to boost mayoral scrutiny

By EXCLUSIVE by Dan Peters and Neil Merrick | 03 September 2025

The Government will propose more legislation to enhance the scrutiny and accountability of mayors...

SEND

Searching for a solution

By Sir Bob Neill | 16 July 2025

As the Government embarks on SEND reform, Sir Bob Neill asks whether ministers have chosen the ri...

INTERVENTION

Councils using planning time extensions 'too often'

By Martin Ford | 30 June 2025

More councils could face Government intervention over planning following a tightening of rules.

FINANCE

Government handling of NICs increase 'unacceptable'

By Martin Ford | 18 June 2025

Ministers made a ‘major misstep’ in failing to assess the impact of the National Insurance Contri...

WHITEHALL

Time for Government to inspire confidence with policies

By Paul Marinko | 15 May 2025

Whitehall is right to be keen to strengthen scrutiny as powers for regional mayors expand, writes...