MiscellaneousE+W
65Public bodies subject to audit etcE+W
(1)The Government of Wales Act 1998 is amended as follows.
(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)In subsection (9) of that section, after paragraph (b) add “and
(c)“public body” means—
(i)a body exercising functions of a public nature, or
(ii)a body entirely or substantially funded from public money.”
(4)In Schedule 17, in Part 1 (bodies subject generally to audit etc provisions), in paragraph 1 omit “(other than the Care Council for Wales)”.
66Minor and consequential amendmentsE+W
Schedule 2 (which makes minor and consequential amendments) has effect.
67Functions transferred to AssemblyE+W
(1)Any reference in Schedule 1 to the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/672) to an enactment amended by this Act is to be treated as a reference to that enactment as amended by this Act.
(2)Subsection (1) does not affect the power to make further Orders varying or omitting those references.
[67AAssistance by Auditor General to inspectoratesE+W
(1)The Auditor General for Wales may provide assistance to—
(a)Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons,
(b)Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary,
(c)Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service,
(d)[Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation for England and Wales],
( e ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
in the discharge of any of their functions.
(2)Assistance under subsection (1) may be provided on such terms, including terms as to payment, as [the Wales Audit Office] and the body or person in question may agree[, but any terms as to payment agreed by the Wales Audit Office must be made in accordance with a scheme for charging fees prepared under section 24 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013].
[(3)Any sums charged in relation to assistance provided under this section may not exceed the full cost of providing that assistance.]]
[67BProtection from defamation claimsE+W
For the purposes of the law of defamation, the publication in a communication between the Auditor General for Wales or the Wales Audit Office and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales of a matter in connection with a joint investigation conducted under section 68(2) of the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019, is absolutely privileged.]