It is unacceptable that the increase in missing data is reducing the utility and reliability of the Whole of Government Accounts. A total of 155 public bodies did not submit data this year, including two pension schemes with liabilities of £86.9 billion and £48.2 billion respectively. As we found in our examination of the 2019– 20 WGA, gaps in the data reduces the completeness of the information available in the WGA, and reduces the certainty of any consequent insights, conclusions or decisio...

It is unacceptable that the increase in missing data is reducing the utility and reliability of the Whole of Government Accounts. A total of 155 public bodies did not submit data this year, including two pension schemes with liabilities of £86.9 billion and £48.2 billion respectively. As we found in our examination of the 2019– 20 WGA, gaps in the data reduces the completeness of the information available in the WGA, and reduces the certainty of any consequent insights, conclusions or decisions. When combined with the delays to the accounts, it makes it a less useful source to base decision making on. Stakeholders have suggested that using un Type: conclusion | Number: 2 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. department is addressing the issue of missing data. The governance statement in the 2021-22 WGA discusses the issue of missing data and we will continue to do this in future publications. The department has als