Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed the next permanent head of the National Audit Office will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny in the House of Commons.

He made the announcement as he formally proposed a commons motion requesting the Queen to appoint deputy NAO chief Tim Burr to replace comptroller and auditor general Sir John Bourn on his retirement at the end of this month after 20 years in office.

The motion was passed without opposition. It is the only key public appointment which MPs can currently actually veto, but relevant committees will in future hold pre-appointment hearings on such posts as the chair of the Audit Commission and head of the FSA - though there is a question mark as to whether the process will cover the next Governor of the Bank of England.

Brown thanked Sir John for his 'courteous' dealings with MPs and his work scrutinizing government spending and supporting the commons Public Accounts Committee which is the body most likely to 'interview' Burr's successor.

He said Burr is 'eminently qualified'. Sir John's departure follows controversy over expenditure of over £300,000 on travel. He was formally cleared of impropriety by the Public Accounts Commission.

Public Accounts Commission chairman Alan Williams said he had just received a report on the governance of the NAO which would be considered by the commission next month.

He and Public Accounts Committee chairman Edward Leigh urged future C& AGs should serve a fixed term.

Tory spokesman David Gauke was concerned Sir John had been 'hounded' out of office.