Part 8Local services: inspection and audit
Chapter 1Constitution of the Audit Commission
F6145Membership
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F6146Change of name
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Chapter 2Audit Commission and auditors: functions and procedure
Benefits inspections
I6147Powers of the Audit Commission relating to benefits
1
In section 13 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (reports by Audit Commission relating to best value authorities), after subsection (4) insert—
4A
If a report relates to any extent to the administration of housing benefit or council tax benefit and the Commission thinks fit to do so, it shall as soon as reasonably practicable send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.
2
F3In section 139D of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) (power of Secretary of State to give directions following report), in subsection (1), after paragraph (ba) insert—
bb
a copy of a report has been sent to a local authority under subsection (3) of section 13 of the Local Government Act 1999 and to the Secretary of State under subsection (4A) of that section;
F7148Benefit Fraud Inspectorate: transfers to the Audit Commission
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Interaction with other authorities
F8149Interaction of the Audit Commission with other authorities
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I7150Interaction of benefits inspectors with the Audit Commission
F4After section 139B of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) insert—
139BAInteraction with Audit Commission
1
A person authorised under section 139A(1) must from time to time, or at such times as the Secretary of State may specify by order, prepare—
a
a document setting out what inspections of English authorities he proposes to carry out (an “inspection programme”);
b
a document setting out the way in which he proposes to carry out his functions of inspecting and reporting on such authorities (an “inspection framework”).
2
The person authorised under section 139A(1) must—
a
consult the Audit Commission before preparing an inspection programme or an inspection framework; and
b
once an inspection programme or inspection framework is prepared, send a copy of it to—
i
the Secretary of State; and
ii
the Audit Commission.
3
The Secretary of State may by order specify the form that inspection programmes or inspection frameworks must take.
4
A person authorised under section 139A(1)—
a
must co-operate with the Audit Commission, and
b
may act jointly with the Audit Commission,
where it is appropriate to do so for the efficient and effective discharge of the person's functions in relation to English authorities.
5
In this section—
“the Audit Commission” means the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England;
“English authorities” means authorities administering housing benefit or council tax benefit in England;
“person” does not include the Audit Commission.
Inspections and audit
I1151Powers of auditors and inspectors to obtain information
F91
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2
In section 11 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (inspectors' powers and duties in connection with best value inspections)—
a
after subsection (1) insert—
1A
The right conferred by subsection (1)(b) includes power to inspect, copy or take away the document.
b
after subsection (2) insert—
2A
In relation to a document kept in electronic form, the power in subsection (2)(b) to require a person to produce a document includes power to require it to be produced in a form in which it is legible and can be taken away.
2B
In connection with inspecting such a document, an inspector—
a
may obtain access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and associated apparatus or material which he considers is or has been used in connection with the document;
b
may require a person within subsection (2C) to afford him such reasonable assistance as he may require for that purpose.
2C
A person is within this subsection if he is—
a
the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been used; or
b
a person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material.
c
in subsection (5), after “reasonable excuse” insert “
obstructs the exercise of any power conferred by this section or
”
.
I8152Inspections of best value authorities
1
Section 10 of the Local Government Act 1999 (inspections) is amended as follows.
2
Before subsection (1) insert—
A1
The Audit Commission may carry out an inspection of a best value authority's performance of its functions or of any particular function or functions.
3
In subsection (1), after “may” insert “
, in particular,
”
.
Studies and reports etc
F10153National studies
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I2154Studies at request of particular bodies
In the Audit Commission Act 1998, omit—
a
section 35 (studies at request of bodies subject to audit);
b
section 35A (studies for functional bodies at request of Greater London Authority).
I3155Registered social landlords
1
In section 40(1) of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (studies relating to registered social landlords), omit “(other than registered social landlords in Wales)”.
F12
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F113
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4
Omit section 42 of that Act (consultancy services relating to audit of accounts of registered social landlords).
F25
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I9156Information about performance standards of local authorities etc
In the Audit Commission Act 1998 (c. 18), omit sections 44 to 47 (publication of information about standards of performance).
F12157Reports on English local authorities
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F13158Reports categorising English local authorities
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Miscellaneous
F5159Appointment of auditors
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F5160Inspection and disclosure of personal information
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F5161Right to make objections at audit
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F5162Appointment of auditor to carry out agreed audits
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F5163Consent for the purposes of agreed audit
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F5164Disclosure of information obtained by the Audit Commission or an auditor
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F5165Publication of information by the Audit Commission
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Chapter 3Auditor General for Wales and auditors
I4166Registered social landlords in Wales
After section 145C of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) insert—
145DAdvice and assistance for registered social landlords
1
The Auditor General for Wales may, if he thinks it appropriate to do so, provide advice or assistance to a registered social landlord in Wales for the purpose of the exercise by the registered social landlord of its functions.
2
Advice or assistance under this section may be provided on such terms and conditions, including conditions as to payment, as the Auditor General for Wales thinks fit.
3
This section has effect without prejudice to paragraph 21 of Schedule 8 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (arrangements between Auditor General for Wales and certain bodies).
4
In this section, “registered social landlord in Wales” means a body which is—
a
registered as a social landlord under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996, and
b
mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 56(2) of that Act.
I5167Disclosure of information obtained by the Auditor General for Wales or an auditor
1
The Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (c. 23) is amended as follows.
2
In section 54 of that Act (restriction on disclosure of information), after subsection (2) insert—
2ZA
A person who is, or acts on behalf of a person who is, a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, may also disclose such information—
a
in accordance with section 145C(5) or (8) of the Government of Wales Act 1998; or
b
in any other circumstances, except where the disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective performance of a function imposed or conferred on the person by or under an enactment.
2ZB
An auditor who does not fall within subsection (2ZA), or a person acting on his behalf, may also disclose such information except where the disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective performance of a function imposed or conferred on the auditor by or under an enactment.
2ZC
A person who does not fall within subsection (2ZA) or (2ZB) may also disclose such information in accordance with consent given by the Auditor General for Wales or an auditor.
2ZD
Section 54ZA makes further provision about consent for the purposes of subsection (2ZC).
3
Omit subsection (2A) of that section.
4
In subsection (3) of that section, for “subsection (2)” substitute “
this section
”
.
5
In subsection (4) of that section—
a
in paragraph (a), omit “to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or” and “or to both;”;
b
omit paragraph (b).
6
After that section insert—
54ZAConsent under section 54(2ZC)
1
Consent for the purposes of section 54(2ZC) must be obtained in accordance with this section.
2
A person requesting consent (“the applicant”) must make a request for consent which—
a
is in writing,
b
states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence,
c
describes the information in relation to which consent is requested, and
d
identifies the person to whom the information will be disclosed.
3
Consent must be given except where the disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective performance of a function imposed or conferred on the Auditor General for Wales or an auditor by or under an enactment.
4
Consent may be given or refused orally or in writing; but where it is given or refused orally the consent or refusal must be confirmed in writing.
5
A refusal (or, where the refusal is oral, the confirmation of the refusal) must contain the reasons for the refusal.
6
A person to whom a request for consent is made must give or refuse consent not later than the twentieth working day following the day on which the request is received.
7
“Working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in any part of the United Kingdom.
7
Omit section 54A of that Act (disclosure of information by or on behalf of public authorities).
8
Nothing in this section has effect in relation to a disclosure made before the commencement of this section.