Threads / Fiscal Risks and Sustainability / The WGA is not sufficiently focused on long–term financial …
Committee Material Published 19 Mar 2025 ↗ View on Parliament

The WGA is not sufficiently focused on long–term financial risk. One purpose of the WGA is to provide a comprehensive picture of the UK’s public sector finances and inform more effective management of fiscal risks. The WGA 2022–23 includes narrative on the fiscal risks published in the OBR’s Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report. In particular, it highlights risks posed by climate change, rising health spending, and geopolitical tensions which are projected to increase pressures on the publi...

The WGA is not sufficiently focused on long–term financial risk. One purpose of the WGA is to provide a comprehensive picture of the UK’s public sector finances and inform more effective management of fiscal risks. The WGA 2022–23 includes narrative on the fiscal risks published in the OBR’s Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report. In particular, it highlights risks posed by climate change, rising health spending, and geopolitical tensions which are projected to increase pressures on the public finances. The OBR’s report also notes that public sector net debt is expected to almost treble over the next 50 years if current trends continue. Howev Type: conclusion | Number: 6 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. comprehensive picture across the whole public sector. There are other similarly valuable sources of information such as departmental accounts, or the fiscal sustainability and risk updates provided by the OBR.