Audit Commission

Debate between Lord Pickles and Jon Trickett

Tuesday 7th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend is quite right to wish to ensure that there is a rigorous regime. He is also right to warn about the consequences of auditors remaining within a particular local authority for too long; it is always important to have a fresh eye. We will be looking to the National Audit Office and the professions to build up a very rigorous regime that will last and will pass the test of time.

[Jon Trickett (Hemsworth) (Lab)]

The guarantee of probity is one of the central functions of the audit, and achieving that requires independence. One remembers very clearly the role of the Audit Commission in the political corruption at Westminster council, which revealed millions of pounds effectively being taken away from the public—the ratepayers—there.

May I draw to the House’s attention the remarkable coincidence that the day on which this announcement was made—13 August—was the same day that Sir Philip Green was appointed the Government’s efficiency tsar? Was there any connection between the two announcements? Can the Secretary of State give the House an assurance that Sir Philip Green, given his tax arrangements, will play no role whatsoever in guaranteeing probity in public expenditure?

[Mr Pickles]

I have known the hon. Gentleman for a long time, so I am genuinely sorry to do this to him, but may I politely remind him that the auditor in Westminster was a private sector auditor working for KPMG? It was not a district auditor—it was somebody in the private sector.

With regard to any outside organisations dealing with these matters, we are looking to the National Audit Office and the professions.