NAO under more expenses fire

Thousands of pounds spent on fine dining in some of London's most expensive restaurants 'impossible to fathom' says MP

Written by David Jetuah

Accountancy Age, 15 Jan 2008

The National Audit Office has come under a renewed barrage of criticism for its 'spendthrift culture'.

MPs levelled fresh claims of wastefulness at the body-responsible for keeping an eye on spending in government departments- after more examples of the NAO's generous entertainment regime came to light.

Detractors seized upon meals for visiting audit delegations in particular. NAO chiefs managed to rack up a £1,600.86 bill at a top Knightsbridge restaurant while entertaining 10 Croatian envoys.

Another trip to Wiltons in Mayfair with a delegation from the Tunisian court of auditors cost the taxpayer £1,203.50.

'There seems to be a cancer within the NAO,' Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told the Sunday Times. 'There is a spendthrift culture that seems endemic.'

The NAO said that the level of spending reflected the standing of the guests.