[OpenSpending] Users of public sector account

[Tony.Hirst]

Hi Milly

Does the NAO piloto project have a web home where we can keep track of its progress? Will you be producing a report summarising findings?

I've started wondering - as a total novice/outsider looking at the data that things like openspending and the spending datasets released under transparency requirements by local gov ( eg reflections here: http://blog.ouseful.info/2013/08/17/negative-payments-in-local-spending-data/ ) - what line item data is actually good for and to what extent the data is actually useful and/or even meaningful (rather than being nonsense or or little use to a professional auditor, for example)?

If we were to write a getting started guide to the area on School of Data, for example, what sorts of question/investigation should we be suggesting that folk start to explore?

tony



________________________________________
Tony Hirst
Personal blog: blog.ouseful.info

Tel/SMS: +44 (0) 1908 652789
Lecturer in Telematics
Computing & Communications Department
The Open University
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK
________________________________________

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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:06:56 +0100
From: "COTTAM, Milly" <Milly.Cottam at nao.gsi.gov.uk>
Subject: [OpenSpending] Users of public sector accounts
To: "openspending at lists.okfn.org" <openspending at lists.okfn.org>
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        <0EFDAD8237CBEC448A9E8796104F2EBD10C503B3A2 at MAILSERVE.nao.gsi.gov.uk>
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Hi!

The NAO are running a pilot project looking into the impact and relevance of public sector accounts. We started by doing a series of case studies trying to identify and interview readers of certain central government departments and bodies. We are now looking into wider audiences such as think tanks, academics etc. It has not always been easy however we have been able to identify readers from a variety of backgrounds /sectors.

So my question is does anyone read public sector annual reports and accounts and if so why? If you could consider the following thoughts in your response that would be great.

-       What information are you interested in (annual report, particular accounting note etc) and for what purpose?
-       Is the information easy to find and interpret?
-       Is the information suitable for both financial and non-financial audiences?
-       How might annual reports and accounts provide more impact?
All responses much appreciated!

Thanks,

Milly

Milly Cottam | Audit Principal
National Audit Office, 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road,  Victoria, London, SW1W 9SP
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7798 7287 | Web: http://www.nao.org.uk/
Helping the nation spend wisely
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