But there are some areas where progress has not been impressive. |
Delays in processing applications, caused by poor computer systems and the inability of frontline staff to access the information they need, means that people can face lengthy waits for 'emergency funds'. |
Each day, over one million people are treated successfully, and we all know that in the complex world of a hospital, things can go wrong. But no public health system should tolerate a failure to learn from previous experience on this scale. |
Failed asylum seekers are in increasing numbers staying in this country knowing there is very little likelihood they will be apprehended or removed. |
Far too many small and medium-sized stations are threatening places, with poorly lit, graffiti-covered passages and platforms, vandalized facilities and no staff on hand. |
It has been saddled with an annual bill of a quarter of a million pounds to maintain the ill-conceived and ill-executed memorial fountain for Diana, Princess of Wales. |
It is the clear volume of these cases which is worrying, 1 million incidents a year, and even more concerning that half of them could have been prevented if there had been proper reporting procedures. |
The astronomical scale of the amount of benefit money being lost through fraud and error is vividly brought home to taxpayers by the astonishing fact that the figures are rounded to the nearest half-a-billion pounds. |
The Department for Education and Skills looks to be losing ground in its battle against truancy. Having remained at the same level for many years, the level of truancy has suddenly increased - to over 0.8% of school days. |
The information could have been fuller . . . it is not some recherché point. There is enormous public interest and the sports need to know where they stand. |
The motive of giving the administrators a chance, however small, to sell the business was understandable -- but the blunt truth is that there was no real prospect of selling a going concern and taxpayers did not get value for their money. |
The people who need it most often don't know it exists -- and somewhat incredibly, neither do many of the Jobcentre staff who are there to help them. |
The risk of this large liability was incurred essentially so that investors could have fatter returns. |
The ultimate success of Skills for Life will depend on the 'hard to reach' being persuaded of the benefits of gaining qualifications. To this end, it is a matter of grave concern that those with the greatest need have been getting the worst quality teaching. |
This report raises a serious question mark over the amount of efficiency savings the government will achieve. This is a high risk program. Only 50 out of 300 projects have got to deliver 80 percent of the total savings. |