Communication and media
Listed below are the latest news articles published on the Swedish NAO website. Previous news related to our reports and review results can be accessed from our reports page or by using the website search in the page header.
News articles
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Central government administration is growing, despite efficiency improvement efforts
The Government has taken measures to improve administrative efficiency at central government agencies. However, the Swedish National Audit Office’s (Swedish NAO) audit shows that the measures have only had limited effect, and that the Government should intensify its work – for example by enabling increased coordination.
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Continued partnership between the supreme audit institutions of Sweden and Moldova
Auditor General of Sweden and the President of the Court of Accounts of the Republic of Moldova have signed an agreement on continued cooperation. The aim is to strengthen the Court of Accounts’ ability to work in compliance with international principles and standards.
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Major deficiencies in how the State ensures access to veterinary services
The State is responsible for ensuring that there are veterinary services throughout Sweden. The Swedish National Audit Office's (Swedish NAO) audit reveals major deficiencies in governance of these activities, and that the Swedish Board of Agriculture does not ensure competition on similar terms.
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Poor results of the Government’s efforts to expand higher education in shortage occupations
The Government’s extensive efforts to expand higher education programmes in certain shortage occupations have not yielded the desired results. One explanation is that the problem has been a lack of applicants rather than the number of places HEIs provide in different programmes. The Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) recommends that the Government significantly improves preparation of similar initiatives.
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Unclear benefit from costly transport subsidy
For 50 years the State has invested several hundred million kronor on transport subsidies to companies in the four northernmost counties. However, it is not clear to what extent the money contributes to regional development – or how the subsidy affects the climate, according to the Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) audit.
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Government evaluations of the effects of industrial policy are not reliable
With few exceptions, outcome evaluations made of industrial policy are not of a high enough quality to draw conclusions on causal links. Only 2 out of 37 audited evaluations reach the required level for the evaluation to be considered reliable, according to the Swedish National Audit Office’s (Swedish NAO) audit.
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Increased focus on sustainability in the National Audit Office's international development cooperation
The National Audit Office's new strategy for international development cooperation has increased the focus on sustainability issues and adapted its methods in response to the Pandemic. The purpose is to promote effective governance and democratic development in developing countries.
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Webinar: The Governments initiatives against labor exploitation.
In a webinar 10th of February at 14.00-15.30, the audit report of the Governments initiatives against labor exploitation will be presented. The National Audit Office has invited representatives from the United Kingdom and Finland to get a picture of how these countries work against labor exploitation.
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Fiscal policy partly in conflict with framework and legislation
The Government mainly follows the fiscal policy framework. But, according to the Swedish National Audit Office, substantially raising the ceiling for central government expenditure in coming years is in conflict with the fiscal policy framework. In addition, by not presenting how the surplus target is to be reached, the Government is not in compliance with the Budget Act.
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Reduced payroll tax for older people – uncertain effects and reporting deficiencies
Lower payroll tax for older people was to lead to increased employment among people over the age of 65. However, it is uncertain whether the tax cut has led to increased employment. The uncertainty is due, among other things, to shortcomings in the Government’s reporting, according to the Swedish National Audit Office’s audit.
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Effective work with guarantees at Sida, but inadequate follow-up
Sida is increasingly using credit guarantees as a tool in its development cooperation. The Swedish National Audit Office assesses that the work is effective, but that follow-up needs to be improved to ensure that the guarantees are fit for purpose.
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Effective review of public service companies
The Swedish Broadcasting Commission’s review of the content of public service broadcasts is largely effective and has the desired result. However, the Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) recommends that the Broadcasting Commission expands the reasoning behind certain decisions, and works to shorten its processing times.
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The Government overestimates future revenues from energy and environmental taxes
The Government’s calculations of future revenues from energy and carbon taxes do not take sufficient account of the major changes taking place in the climate and energy area. This means that these revenues risk being overestimated and that the assessment of the long-term sustainability of public finances may be misleading, according to the Swedish National Audit Office’s audit.
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Too few community police officers in vulnerable areas
Despite major increases in resources the Police Authority has not been able to ensure minimum staffing levels for community police officers in all vulnerable areas. Shortages of some equipment and little opportunity to share information with social services further hamper the work, the Swedish NAO’s audit shows.
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Major shortcomings in government initiatives to combat labour exploitation
Government initiatives to combat labour exploitation have major shortcomings. The shortcomings exist in all parts of the system, and are mainly due to the fact that the Government has not given the government agencies a mandate and responsibilities to counteract the problem.
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Effective and efficient when computers make official decisions but inadequate controls and follow-up
A Swedish National Audit Office audit shows that it is common for official decisions to be made by computers, called automated decision-making. In most cases, this leads to increased efficiency and legal certainty, but not always. Errors that arise can have major consequences for individuals and reduce confidence in public administration.
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Further bilateral cooperation between the National Audit Offices of Sweden and Kosovo
Today, following productive multi- annual cooperation, the National Audit Office of Sweden and the National Audit Office of Kosovo have furthered the bilateral cooperation by signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Institutional Development Co-operation with the National Audit Office of Kosovo for 2020-2023.
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The Swedish National Audit Office and the Supreme Audit Office of Afghanistan extends cooperation
The Swedish National Audit Office and the Supreme Audit Office of Afghanistan (SAO) have agreed to extend the cooperation. The overall objective is to strengthen public sector auditing in Afghanistan.
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Swedish NAO to cooperate with United Nations Development Programme in Zimbabwe
The Swedish National Audit Office have decided to contribute USD 200,000 to United Nations Development Programme in Zimbabwe. The objective is to further strengthen public sector auditing in line with international standards.
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The Swedish National Audit Office extends the cooperation with General Auditing Office of Liberia
The Swedish National Audit Office has decided to extend the cooperation with the General Auditing Commission of Liberia (GAC). The objective is to further strengthen the quality assurance and quality control of the audits in Liberia.
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Revolving door syndrome a challenge for Finansinspektionen
Finansinspektionen needs to reduce risks linked to the closeness existing between the authority and financial market actors. The Swedish National Audit Office would like to see more training, control and documentation.
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The main objective of the multi-billion elderly care initiative was not achieved
Central government invested a total of more than four billion kronor to improve the quality of municipal health and social care of the elderly. An important component was investment in various quality registers. They did not lead to any permanent quality improvement, but had positive side-effects for individuals, according to the Swedish National Audit Office’s audit (NAO).
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Considerable cost increases for operation and maintenance of railways
The State pays far more for operation and maintenance of railways than is initially agreed, shows a Swedish National Audit Office audit. Worst affected is winter maintenance, where the costs are almost doubled.
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Changes in the Management of the Swedish National Audit Office
After assessing the management of the Swedish National Audit Office (NAO), the Riksdag has concluded that the system previously employed, consisting of three Auditors General, should be abolished. Instead the Swedish NAO is now led by one Auditor General, assisted by a Deputy Auditor General with the main objective being to strengthen the management of the NAO and to clarify the responsibilities for the operations of the Swedish NAO.
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International discussion on audit of donor funds by Supreme Audit Institutions
This week, the INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee, vice-chaired by the Swedish National Audit Office, invited international development actors and supreme audit institutions (SAIs) to webinars on audit of donor funds by SAIs.
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Extensive inefficiency at some prisons
The latest audit by the Swedish National Audit Office shows that many of the prisons run by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service do not use their resources efficiently and effectively. Small prisons and worn and outdated premises provide some explanation. Since the Swedish Prison and Probation Service does not collect necessary data, this has gone undetected for many years.
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Measures required to improve governance of subject teacher education programmes
Programmes for the education of teachers at the upper levels of compulsory school and upper secondary schools have long been criticised for their poor quality. The Swedish NAO audit shows that better governance with clearer division of responsibility, more effective coordination and greater student influence would counter these shortcomings.
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The Swedish Public Employment Service should improve several components of its Support and Matching service
The rating system that the Swedish Public Employment Service has introduced into its Support and Matching service guides jobseekers to suppliers with comparatively good outcomes. However, the Swedish National Audit Office recommends that the Public Employment Service continue to make improvements in procurements under the Act on Free Choice Systems.
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Swedish higher education institutions hold their own in a Nordic comparison
Swedish higher education institutions hold their own in a Nordic comparison. Despite this, the audit undertaken by the Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) shows that some of these institutions could produce considerably more teaching and research, without more resources.
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Lack of holistic approach to initiatives for socio-economically vulnerable areas
Over the years, the Government has introduced a large number of targeted government grants that are intended directly or indirectly to support socio-economically vulnerable areas. The Swedish National Audit Office’s audit shows that these should be designed more strategically so as to benefit the local public sector core activities.
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Uncertain route back to work after refused sickness benefit
The number of people who are refused sickness benefit has increased in recent years. Most return to their previous job, but often only part-time and many are again on sick leave after 9-15 months. The Swedish National Audit Office is now calling for measures to facilitate return to work.
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No evidence that the local income equalisation system hampers municipal growth
The purpose of the local income equalisation system is to increase the abilities of the municipalities to provide equivalent services. There is a long-standing concern that the system hampers the growth ambitions of municipalities. The Swedish National Audit Office’s audit shows that there is no empirical evidence for this.
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Tanzania is awarded the Prize for the best Performance Audit report
The National Audit Office of Tanzania has today been awarded the prize for the best performance audit report in the AFROSAI-E region, the African Organization of English-speaking Supreme Audit Institutions.
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Return activities: weak governance, conflicting objectives and lack of coordination
The Swedish National Audit Office has audited the work of the State to get people who are not allowed to stay in Sweden to leave the country – voluntarily or through the use of coercive measures. The audit shows that it is not effective. The Government should therefore review the governance of these activities and the distribution of tasks between different government agencies.
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Shortcomings in governance and evaluation of innovation investments
The Swedish National Audit Office has identified a number of shortcomings in two major Government investments in innovative capacity and competitiveness. These include unclear governance, time pressure in planning and lack of follow-up and evaluation.
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Ineffective support to green cars
Despite the lack of adequate cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessments, the Government has invested several billion kronor to increase the share of green cars. The Swedish National Audit Office audit shows that this has been relatively costly and ineffective in reducing the CO2 emissions of the transport sector.
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The Government should review the large-family supplement in the child allowance
When the limit for the large-family supplement in the child allowance was lowered from three to two children in 2005, the efficacy of the allowance decreased considerably. The Swedish National Audit Office now recommends that the Government considers removing support for child number two and instead spending the money on more effective measures.
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Major potential for development of National Board of Trade’s work to overcome trade barriers
The National Board of Trade is to promote Swedish companies’ export opportunities. This work can be developed in several ways, including increased knowledge of companies’ experiences of trade barriers and the National Board of Trade’s activities becoming better known among export companies.
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Deficiencies in governance and administration when universities and other higher education institutions run holding companies
The Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) has examined how higher education institutions run their holding companies and has found that deficiencies in governance and administration result in the companies not being run in a sufficiently business-like and effective manner. The deficiencies are partly due to the Government’s governance of universities and other higher education institutions.
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Major deficiencies in consumer protection for buyers of new apartments
Buyers of newly built tenant-owned apartments have far worse protection than consumers in other markets. The buyer’s position is weak, while there are significant risks. The Swedish National Audit Office (Swedish NAO) now calls on the Government to take the initiative to amend the Swedish Tenant Ownership Act.
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