NAO needed Sharman report, says PAC
The House of Commons Public Accounts committee is urging the government to move swiftly to implement the Sharman report extending the powers of the National Audit Office.
In a special report Westminster’s main financial watchdog fully endorsed proposals allowing the NAO to audit non-departmental public bodies and gain access to companies established by public bodies and organisations which receive public funds such as train operators.
‘We believe the report provided a comprehensive set of measures which, implemented as a whole, will help ensure the continued effectiveness of audit and accountability arrangement into the 21st century,’ said PAC.
‘We strongly support the report’s recommendations. We believe each must play a full part in ensuring the report is implemented as a whole,’ the group added.
PAC also suggested the government seeks to extend the powers enabling parliament access to the Civil List.
At a recent PAC hearing, veteran Labour minister Allen Williams said the disaster of the Pathway scheme in creating a swipe card-based system for paying benefits was ‘a perfect example of why wider NAO access is needed’. Links
Sharman calls for greater NAO role