The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025
The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025 designates numerous public and local government bodies to provide financial information to the Treasury for the 2024-2025 financial year.
This data is used to compile the Whole of Government Accounts, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in public spending.
The Order came into force on March 18, 2025, and applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Treasury consulted with Welsh Ministers where deemed appropriate.
Arguments For
Improved Transparency and Accountability: The Order enhances transparency and accountability in government finances by requiring a wide range of bodies to submit financial data.
Comprehensive Financial Overview: The aggregated data enables the Treasury to prepare comprehensive Whole of Government Accounts, providing a holistic view of public spending.
Effective Resource Allocation: A complete understanding of government finances supports effective resource allocation and sound fiscal management.
Legal Basis: The Order is based on the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, providing a clear legal framework for data collection.
Arguments Against
Administrative Burden: The data submission requirements may create an administrative burden on designated bodies, potentially diverting resources from core functions.
Data Privacy Concerns: Handling sensitive financial information raises potential data privacy concerns that need careful mitigation.
Potential for Inconsistent Reporting: Unless reporting standards are clearly defined and implemented consistently, the quality and comparability of the data might be compromised.
Limited Impact Assessment: The lack of a detailed impact assessment raises concerns about the potential unforeseen consequences of the Order.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) This Order may be cited as the Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order 2025 and comes into force on 18th March 2025. (2) This Order extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This section details the official name of the Order, its effective start date (March 18, 2025), and its geographical scope, covering the entire United Kingdom.
- Designation The bodies listed in the Schedule (designated bodies for 2024-2025) to this Order are designated in respect of the financial year ending with 31st March 2025 for the purposes of section 10 (obtaining information) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000.
This section identifies the purpose of the Order: to formally designate specific bodies to supply financial information.
The designation pertains to the financial year concluding on March 31, 2025, and aligns with Section 10 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000, which addresses information gathering.
Schedule Designated Bodies for 2024-2025 Central Government, Public Corporations etc. [Long list of organizations]
This schedule provides an exhaustive list of organizations designated to provide financial data.
These organizations range from central government departments to public corporations and other public bodies.
The list is extensive and covers various sectors within the UK’s public sector.
Local Government [Long list of local government organizations]
This section lists numerous local government entities, including councils and combined authorities.
These organizations are also required to submit financial information under the order.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order) This Order designates the bodies listed in the Schedule in relation to the financial year ending with 31st March 2025 for the purposes of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2020 (c. 20). The effect of the designation is that these bodies are required to prepare and present to the Treasury such financial information in relation to that financial year as the Treasury require to enable them to prepare Whole of Government Accounts. An impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the Order's function is to mandate the bodies listed in the schedule to furnish financial data to the Treasury for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
This information is essential for generating the Whole of Government Accounts.
The note also indicates that a formal impact assessment was deemed unnecessary.