Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus Public Accounts Committee

Bae Caerdydd / Cardiff Bay

 Caerdydd / Cardiff

CF99 1NA

23 July 2012

Dear Sir/Madam

Consultation on the Public Audit (Wales) Bill

The Public Accounts Committeeis undertaking an inquiry into the general principles of the Public Audit (Wales) Bill.

Further details about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum can be found on the Assembly’s website:

http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=4174

The terms of reference for the inquiry are:

To consider the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to strengthen the accountability and governance arrangements relating to the Auditor General for Wales and Wales Audit Office, and other related matters, by reference to:

1. The individual provisions set out in the Bill—

§ Sections 2-12, relating to the Auditor General for Wales,

§ Section 13-28, relating to the Wales Audit Office and its relationship with the Auditor General, and

§ Sections 29-37, which make miscellaneous and general provision.

2. Any potential barriers to the implementation of these provisions and whether the Bill takes account of them.

3. The financial implications of the Bill (as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum (the Regulatory Impact Assessment), which estimates the costs and benefits of implementation of the Bill).

4. The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1, Section 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum, which contains a table summarising the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation).

Invitation to contribute to the inquiry

The Committee welcomes evidence from those with an interest in this subject. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please provide a brief description of the role of your organisation.

The Committee welcomes contributions in English or Welsh and will consider responses to the inquiry and hold oral evidence sessions during the autumn term.

If you wish to submit evidence, please send an electronic copy of your submission to: PublicAccounts.Committee@Wales.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can write to:

Sarah Sargent, Deputy Clerk

Public Accounts Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA.

Submissions should arrive by Friday 21 September.  It may not be possible to take into account responses received after this date.

For your information, the Committee has invited submissions from those on the attached distribution list. The Committee would be grateful if you could forward a copy of the letter to any individuals or organisations that are not included on this list, but might like to contribute to the inquiry. A copy of this letter has been placed on the Assembly’s website with an open invitation to submit views.

Disclosure of Information

It is normal practice for the Assembly to publish evidence provided to a Committee. Consequently, your response may appear in a report or in supplementary evidence to a report. The Assembly will not publish information it considers to be personal data.

In the event of a request for information submitted under UK legislation, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide. This may include information which has previously been removed by the Assembly for publication purposes.

If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, it is up to you to stipulate which parts should not be published and to provide a reasoned argument to support this. The Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information.

Yours faithfully

Darren Millar AC / AM

Cadeirydd / Chair

Annexe

Consultees

* County and County Borough Councils in Wales;

^ Welsh Local Government Association;

* National Park Authorities in Wales;

* Port Health Authorities in Wales;

* Fire and Rescue Services in Wales;

* Police Authorities in Wales;

* Wales Probation Trust;

* Health Boards and Trusts in Wales;

Public Health Wales NHS Trust;

* The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales;

* The Children’s Commissioner for Wales;

* The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales;

^ Countryside Council for Wales;

^ Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales;

* Sport Wales;

* Forestry Commission Wales;

* Arts Council of Wales;

* General Teaching Council for Wales;

* National Museum of Wales;

* National Library of Wales;

* The Welsh Language Commissioner;

* Welsh Levy Board;

* Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales;

* Care Council for Wales;

^ Higher Education Funding Council for Wales;

* One Voice Wales;

* The Auditor General for Wales;

* Financial Reporting Council;

* Comptroller and Auditor General UK;

Comptroller and Auditor General Irish Republic;

* Auditor General Scotland;

* Comptroller and Auditor General of Northern Ireland;

*^ Audit Commission;

* NHS Confederation Wales;

^The Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales;

* The Wales Office;

* Her Majesty’s Treasury;

* Ministry of Justice;

* Department of Work and Pensions;

* Department of Communities and Local Government;

* Home Office;

^Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants (CIPFA);

^ Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Wales;

* The Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales;

* Chartered Institute of Management Accountants;

Cardiff University Business School;

^ World Wildlife Fund (Cymru);

^ Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC);

^ Cardiff Metropolitan University;

^ Glyndwr University, Wrexham;

^ University of Glamorgan;

^ Commissioner for Sustainable Futures;

^ Environment Agency (Wales).

*Contacted as part of the Welsh Governments consultation on the Draft Public Audit (Wales) Bill.

^Responded to the Welsh Governments consultation of the Draft Public Audit (Wales) Bill.