National Audit Office
Oral Answers to Questions — Public Accounts Commission
10:30 am
Philip Hollobone (Kettering, Conservative)
What assessment the Public Accounts Commission has made of the most effective piece of work undertaken by the National Audit Office in 2011-12.
Edward Leigh (Gainsborough, Conservative)
The Public Accounts Commission’s role is not to assess individual pieces of work, but each year we ask the National Audit Office’s external auditors to assess the value-for-money aspect of the NAO. The NAO’s annual report shows that in 2010-11 it influenced the Government to improve public services in key areas such as financial management, and saved the UK taxpayer more than £1 billion.
Philip Hollobone (Kettering, Conservative)
What investigation does my hon. Friend think will be the most interesting, exciting and effective in 2012-13?
Edward Leigh (Gainsborough, Conservative)
Probably the most successful piece of work done by the NAO is its recent report on central Government’s use of consultants, which had a financial impact amounting to more than £323 million. I am convinced that we could save a great deal more money in the operation of central Government: many billions of pounds.
John Bercow (Speaker)
The hon. Gentleman has confounded me. I thought he was going to say that he was spoilt for choice.