Clause 47 - Publication of information as to standards of performance
Public Audit (Wales) Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
Mr Don Touhig (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales), Department for Constitutional Affairs; Islwyn, Labour/Co-operative)
After wide-ranging consultation, the Audit Commission concluded that it would not exercise its powers under sections 44 and 46 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 to require the publication of performance indicators, in recognition that it would be best to focus on the development of statutory best-value performance indicators that were set by the National Assembly under the Local Government Act 1999.
The commission has worked with the Assembly in developing a robust performance management framework for best value. The commission retains the power to require publication, however, and will keep the position under review. It is therefore appropriate to retain the powers for the Auditor General in the Bill, so as not to close off future options.
Amendment No. 37 would raise ambiguities concerning what a particular local government body regards as being a similar authority. It could be open to the Auditor General for Wales to publish his own comparisons in the form of section 41 studies, which could include comparative information available on English or other local authorities which, on an objective basis, are considered to have similar profiles. Under section 6 of the Local Government Act 1999, best value authorities must publish an annual performance plan, known in Wales as an improvement plan. The same requirement applies in England. The publication of such plans would allow cross-border comparisons if authorities so chose. For that reason, the amendment would not achieve what the hon. Gentleman intended, and I invite him to withdraw it.