NAO to go under PAC spotlight
Public sector spending watchdog to be reviewed by Public Accounts Commission, in latest twist of Sir John Bourn's expenses saga
The NAO, and
its chief Sir John Bourn, are to be probed by the Public Accounts Commission in
relation to spending concerns.
The commission’s
inquiry
will look at ‘the extent to which the NAO’s corporate governance arrangements
are consistent with best practice elsewhere’.
The comprehensive investigation will also propose any necessary improvements,
taking account of the need to safeguard Sir John’s ‘statutory discretion in
carrying out his duties‘.
Also on the agenda will be whether the NAO should be overseen by a separate
advisory board staffed with new non-executives.
PAC member Richard Bacon said: ‘MPs on the commission are concerned about the
level of scrutiny of the National Audit Office itself.’
Further reading:
NAO audit
committee chair to vet Sir John Bourn’s expenses