Clause 45 - Benefit administration studies for Secretary of State
Public Audit (Wales) Bill [Lords]
2:45 pm
Mr Bill Wiggin (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Local and Devolved Government Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 36, in
clause 45, page 30, line 22, leave out 'may' and insert 'must'.
This amendment is similar to amendment No. 46 in the name of the hon. Member for Caernarfon, and would replace the word ''may'' with ''must'' in subsection (6). It would make it a requirement of the Secretary of State to publish a study of benefit administration carried out under the clause. It should be obligatory for the outcome of a study into benefit administration to be published, rather than it being left to the Secretary of State's discretion. We would be content with the discretion being with the Auditor General, but it should not be with the Secretary of State. I shall be interested to hear the Minister's justification.