To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their detailed estimate of the cost of abolishing the Audit Commission.

The abolition of the Audit Commission will save a substantial amount of taxpayers' money. The local audit impact assessment sets out the detailed estimate of the cost of abolishing the Audit Commission. In total, the gross transition costs relating to the abolition of the Audit Commission and the setting up of the new audit regime are estimated to be approximately £79.5 million. However, these transition costs are included in the overall assessment of net savings of £1.2 billion over the 10-year period from 2009-10 to 2019-20. A copy of the impact assessment has been placed in the Library of the House.