Draft Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (Audit of Public Bodies) Order 2017

Peter Dowd Excerpts

Tuesday 12th December 2017 General Committees

[Peter Dowd (Bootle) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley, and to speak this afternoon. As the Exchequer Secretary said, this measure tidies up the process of public audit for a number of public bodies that no longer exist and brings new bodies into purview. I understand that the Potato Council is one of the victims that has been peeled off to form part of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

[Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

You’ve got a chip on your shoulder.

[Peter Dowd]

I did keep my eyes peeled for this particular issue. I notice there is also one spec-tater in the Gallery.

The Opposition support the order and measures of this nature, but I want to reiterate the importance of transparency and value for money in all our public bodies. The National Audit Office says that its work led to audited savings of £1.21 billion in 2015, which it estimated was its highest level of financial savings to the taxpayer to date, equivalent to £19 saved for every £1 spent. We have to ensure that public auditors have the independence and resources to carry out their job effectively, therefore guaranteeing strong governance.

However, the NAO’s own statement of accounts says that in real terms its net resources are expected to decline by 15% between 2012-13 and 2019-20. While the NAO has made impressive progress in becoming cost-efficient, can the Minister confirm that in future it will receive the level of resources it needs to continue with its high standards of public audit? I hope that was crisp enough for you, Mr Paisley.