. High levels of expenditure in a context where performance targets were not reached indicated that resources were being ineffectively used, with the obvious conclusion being that skills shortages were an obvious cause of this situation; . High vacancy and turnover rates were indicators that skills retention strategies were not effective; . The sustained use of consultants to provide core services was evidence that the need to build internal capacity was not being addressed in government departments; and . Skills acquisition and development, while much spoken about, were still not adequately addressed.