18 January 2023 , 00:01
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Delays in carrying out vital checks could hamper work to protect national security, a watchdog warned today.
The National Audit Office issued a scathing verdict on the Cabinet Office’s UK Security Vetting arm, which is responsible for background assessments on people before they can carry out certain roles, including having access to sensitive government information, locations or equipment.
Two Whitehall departments - the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office - provide the bulk of its work and backlogs could mean staff are unable to take roles until they have been approved.
But the NAO says it has failed to hit targets for performing counter-terror checks and security checks since August 2021 - and since May 2021 for more in-depth “developed vetting” for more sensitive posts.
NAO chief Gareth Davies said: "Our investigation finds unacceptable delays continue to hamper security vetting, which is of vital importance to the effective functioning of government and, in particular, national security work.
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Many of the checks relate to clearance vetting requests from the Ministry of Defence (PA)“UKSV must build on initiatives from its stabilisation plan to ensure that it is on a sustainable path to meet the increasing demand for vetting - and it is essential that the Cabinet Office sets a clear pathway for meaningful reform, including recruiting and retaining talent to implement and manage sustainable improvements."
The NAO’s 52-page report outlines how just seven per cent of developed vetting clearances were processed within the 95-day target last April 2022, and 15% of counter-terrorist and security check clearances were processed within the 25-day target in September.
DV renewal clearances were taking an average 255 days to be approved in November against a 200-day target.
The report says: “Security vetting is of vital importance to the effective functioning of government.
“If individuals’ clearances are not processed quickly then government departments risk being unable to progress work relating to national security.”
Commons Public Accounts Select Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier said: “For too long, government has failed to get a grip on transforming the vital service of security vetting, which enables safe and effective day-to-day operations across Whitehall.
Commons Public Accounts Select Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier (Handout)“It is unacceptable that UKSV’s customers – like the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office – are experiencing a glacially slow service.
“Time is up, the Cabinet Office must stop stalling and show leadership to deliver a resilient and timely vetting service.”
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Fleur Anderson said: “Missed targets, backlogs and underperformance are commonplace in Rishi Sunak’s Government, but this stinging rebuke from the independent watchdog highlights that their inefficiency and sticking-plaster politics is risking British national security.
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Fleur Anderson (NurPhoto/PA Images)“Labour would never allow a basic, bread and butter function of government like security vetting to fail like this.”
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A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are investing in modernising and improving vetting, and last year more than 200,000 security checks were successfully completed.
"A surge in demand after the Covid pandemic did cause challenges but UK Security Vetting performance has improved since this NAO report, with turnaround times for the highest level of clearance reducing by almost half in just over six months.
"We recognise there is more to be done and are driving forward our plans to further improve performance over the coming months."
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