HC Deb 29 February 2000 vol 345 cc377-8
Mr. Timms

I beg to move amendment No. 26, in page 8, line 30, at end insert—

() Before making an order under subsection (1) the Treasury shall consult the Comptroller and Auditor General.'. The amendment would require the Treasury to consult the CAG before making an order under clause 14, which allows the Treasury to disapply the requirement for particular bodies to be included in the NHS summarised accounts.

In Committee, the Chairman of the PAC asked us to consider making the requirements of the clause subject at least to consultation with the CAG. We entirely recognise the interest that the CAG would have in any proposal not to apply the requirements of summarised accounts to some NHS bodies, and we tabled the amendment to provide for consultation with him before any such order is made under clause 14. I hope that the House will welcome it.

Mr. Letwin

I am glad to say that the spirit of harmony has reasserted itself. I can see no objection to the amendment, which indeed constitutes a response to complaints made in Committee. I only hope that, following reflection, similar responses will be made to some of the other matters that we have raised.

Mr. David Davis

I thank the Minister for the amendment, which meets the requirement that I stipulated in Committee, and is entirely satisfactory.

Amendment agreed to.

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