(8/12/2010 12:05 PM) The attainment of the Storting’s goal of maintaining an active and varied agriculture throughout the country poses substantial challenges and many of the sector’s environmental goals have yet to be reached. The Office of the Auditor General’s investigation uncovered weaknesses in the control exercised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. - The Ministry must do more to describe the priorities and considerations on which the current administration is based, especially in areas where there are conflicting goals, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(8/12/2010 12:00 PM) The control of tax returns and basic data is an essential part of the Norwegian Tax Administration’s control activities. The tax regions’ controls of tax returns for businesspersons and companies have varied greatly, and the control of basic data has been given low priority. - It is important that the Norwegian Tax Administration increases its efforts in this field, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(5/11/2010 12:30 PM) The absence of a strategy and lack of management parameters make it difficult for the police to prioritise efforts to combat organised crime. Outdated ICT systems are also an obstacle to effective efforts in this field. - Several measures have been implemented to improve the police’s work and police budgets have been increased. There is nevertheless a considerable potential to increase efforts against organised crime, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(5/11/2010 12:25 PM) Norwegian-funded measures aimed at securing and removing radioactive sources and waste from North-Western Russia have helped to reduce the risk of accidents and radioactive pollution, and of radioactive sources falling into the wrong hands. Several tasks and challenges remain, however. - Much remains to be clarified, including plans for clearing Andreyev Bay and long-term storage of the radioactive waste there, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(4/29/2010 12:30 PM) Important national guidelines and guides are lacking for interdisciplinary specialist treatment for drug addicts and alcoholics. Many patients at private institutions have not had an individual plan prepared. The shortcomings identified could have serious consequences for a vulnerable group of patients. - A targeted effort is required to put in place services that ensure that these patients receive the treatment to which they are entitled, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(4/29/2010 12:30 PM) The Norwegian Maritime Directorate has only to a very limited extent developed procedures and routines to ensure that its document control of vessels and seafarers is of high quality. The Directorate also has insufficient management information in relation to its case processing. - The result is an increased risk of case processing errors, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(4/15/2010 12:30 PM) Enova’s realised energy results are significantly below the stipulated targets. This applies both to the total figures and to targets relating to heat production and wind power. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and Enova only follow up the actual realisation of stipulated targets to a very limited extent. - The Ministry and Enova should to a much greater extent follow up whether the measures that receive support actually result in new environmentally friendly energy production or energy saving, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(4/15/2010 12:30 PM) The government mapping of flood and landslide hazards is inadequate. Many municipalities are not sufficiently well prepared for flood and landslide hazards. They lack the expertise required to utilise the government mapping, and many are unaware of their legal liability. -Municipalities have a duty to improve their flood and landslide expertise, and government agencies must take much greater responsibility for ensuring that this is done, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo.

(4/15/2010 12:30 PM) Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by more than eight per cent since 1990 and are expected to continue to increase up until 2020. Several measures have been implemented to try to curb growth in emissions, but they have not helped to reverse this trend. - The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors must be given higher priority if the climate policy targets for 2020 are to be achieved, says Auditor General Jørgen Kosmo. The work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a long-term intersectoral task.

(11/10/2009 12:40 PM) Combined, the regional health authorities have failed to meet their owner’s financial management requirements every year during the period 2002 to 2008. During this period, the health trusts had an accumulated deficit of around NOK 10 billion compared to the performance requirements. - It is unacceptable that, over many years, the regional health authorities have failed to adapt to the annual financial framework adopted by the Storting for specialist health services, says Director General Therese Johnsen of the Office of the Auditor General.