HC Deb 14 December 1960 vol 632 cc546-7

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. Arbuthnot

Clause 8 provides that the accounts shall be audited by qualified auditors and that the report and accounts shall be laid before Parliament. On Second Reading I asked my hon. and learned Friend whether those accounts would be scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee and he answered No, because these are not public funds in the true sense of the word."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1960; Vol. 631, c. 968.] I wonder if my hon. and learned Friend would like to amend that answer, because I think he will find that Standing Order No. 90 provides that any accounts laid before Parliament can be scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee, in which case I should feel very much happier about the provisions in the Bill that the accounts should be audited by qualified auditors rather than by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Mr. Renton

My hon. Friend, with great ingenuity, has sprung upon me a point of which I had precisely two minutes notice. I must confess that it is a point which takes me by surprise. Nevertheless, my hon. Friend has made an interesting suggestion. It is contrary to the advice I gave the House on Second Reading, but I shall be very interested to look into it. I am sorry I cannot go further at this moment.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.