Clause 42 - Studies on impact of statutory provisions etc
Public Audit (Wales) Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Mr Bill Wiggin (Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Local and Devolved Government Affairs; Leominster, Conservative)
I apologise to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams), who will know that my constituency already has a Welsh name—Llanllieni—but it was generous of him to offer me an extra 'l'.
New clause 1 would insert a new clause after clause 42 and thereby allow the Auditor General for Wales to extend his value-for-money studies to English local government bodies, provided he consults with the Secretary of State and the Audit Commission. The new clause would give the Auditor General the full power of comparative study, so that he would not feel confined to Welsh local government bodies and therefore unable to undertake a comprehensive analysis.
The Audit Commission in England will be able to study Welsh bodies, under schedule 2 to the Audit Commission Act, but there is no such power for the Auditor General. As the Bill stands, he must consider only Welsh bodies when carrying out comprehensive studies. Under clause 43, he must co-operate with the Audit Commission when carrying out value-for-money studies under clauses 41 and 42. However, co-operation with each other to assist with the other's value-for-money functions is not required.
Wales co-operates with England on Welsh studies, and England co-operates with Wales on English studies, but England does not have to co-operate with Wales on Welsh studies, or vice versa. I am concerned that, without the power to examine English bodies or the ability to require the co-operation of the Audit Commission, audits on Wales could be at a disadvantage compared with audits on England. It is not right that the Auditor General for Wales is in a worse position than his counterpart in England because he has to rely on the other party's good will.