Clause 16 - Code of audit practice
Public Audit (Wales) Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr Bill Wiggin (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Local and Devolved Government Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)
I am grateful to the Minister for his reply. The concern is that the Auditor General could be undermined by tweaking by the Assembly. The Minister has made it clear that that will not happen, and I am grateful for that, but in the negotiations during the preparation of the draft code, which would be laid before the Assembly, such a problem could exist. Clearly, the Assembly must have a say over the code, as it will have to live by it. Equally, the Minister
will recognise my concerns that during the negotiation phase of any code before it was laid before the Assembly, there could be a similar problem. The same argument applies to the parliamentary element here: it is important that Parliament retains the power to annul the code by statutory instrument. I do not think that it ever will, but I recognise the value of leaving the provision in the Bill. We have expressed our concern about untoward behaviour taking place during the negotiations. I am sure, however, that that will never happen. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 16 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 17 to 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.