§ 40. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what discussions the Commission has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General on the costs of inspecting the accounts of health service bodies. [15277]
§ Sir Peter Hordern (Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission)The commission regularly discusses the costs of the National Audit Office's activities—most recently on 30 January when it considered the National Audit Office's estimate for 1996–97. The costs of inspecting the accounts of health service bodies are included in the totals, but they were not discussed separately.
§ Mr. HughesI am grateful for that answer. I have received on the best—[Interruption.] As I have received information that the local Guy's and St. Thomas' national health service trust is to write off about £7 million in relation to the Philip Harris phase 3 building, how may I be assured that the Comptroller and Auditor General will have the resources this financial year to investigate and report on whether that information is correct?
§ Sir Peter HordernThe Comptroller and Auditor General will have the resources for that study. Further, in light of preliminary work undertaken by the National Audit Office, the Comptroller and Auditor General intends to carry out a full investigation into what is now referred to as Guy's phase 3. The work will focus on the reasons for delays and cost overruns, given the National Audit Office's understanding that the building will be used largely as was intended at the outset of the project. The timing of the work is complicated by pending legal action. A report is expected to be published next year.