21(1)If requested to do so by the Commission in any particular case, the Audit Commission may join with the Commission in exercising—
(a)the Commission’s functions under section 20(1)(b) or (d), or
(b)any functions of the Commission—
(i)which are conferred under section 20(1)(e),
(ii)which correspond to its functions under section 20(1)(b), and
(iii)which relate to Health Authorities or Special Health Authorities.
(2)If requested to do so by the Audit Commission in any particular case, the Commission may assist the Audit Commission in the exercise of its functions under section 33(1) of the M1Audit Commission Act 1998 so far as they relate to any body specified in section 98(1) of the 1977 Act.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commission’s functions under paragraph (b) or (d) of section 20(1) are to be treated as including the function of conducting and making reports on studies designed to improve—
(a)economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of any functions of the persons mentioned in that paragraph, and
(b)the management of those persons.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commission’s functions mentioned in subsection (1)(b) are to be treated as including the function of conducting and making reports on studies designed to improve—
(a)economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of any functions of the bodies mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(iii) to which those functions of the Commission relate, and
(b)the management of those bodies.
(5)Any report prepared by virtue of subsection (1) is to be prepared by the Commission acting in conjunction with the Audit Commission.
(6)The Audit Commission may not act as mentioned in subsection (1) unless, before it does so, the Commission has agreed to pay the Audit Commission an amount equal to the full costs incurred by the Audit Commission in so acting.
(7)The Commission may not act as mentioned in subsection (2) unless, before it does so, the Audit Commission has agreed to pay the Commission an amount equal to the full costs incurred by the Commission in so acting.
(8)Any reference in subsection (5) or (6) to subsection (1) is a reference to that subsection as read with subsections (3) and (4).
(9)In this section “the Audit Commission” means the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales.