§ 39. Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)What measures he will take to promote the accountancy skills of NAO auditors. [86569]
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon (Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission)The staff of the National Audit Office already have high accountancy skills. The office encourages all staff to maintain and enhance them through continuous professional development, an integrated and comprehensive technical audit training programme and secondment opportunities to private firms. The office's trainee auditors undertake the qualification of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and there is also direct training support for staff undertaking other professional accountancy qualifications, such as that of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
§ Mr. BercowI am most grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for that informative response. What proportion of auditors in the National Audit Office are, respectively, chartered and certified accountants? Are the office's services regularly subjected to market testing, and is he happy with the results of any such testing?
§ Mr. SheldonI do not have the exact figures but I know that staff achieve considerable successes in their examinations. I have presented prizes, and it is a pleasure to see the high marks—some of the highest available— 760 that some staff achieve. It is an important matter that concerns both the office and the Public Accounts Commission.