§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, 19 April, Official Report, c. 19, what is the total number of staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General; how many of these people are qualified accountants; and if she will list separately the qualifications of the 36 staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General who are employed on the audit of the National Health Service.
§ The Prime MinisterThe present staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General for England, Scotland and Wales numbers 766, of whom 621 are audit staff, and the remainder supporting staff. The Department has 60 staff who are qualified as members of accountancy bodies. A further 235 are at various stages of training for such qualifications.
69WThirty-four audit staff are currently employed on the audit of the National Health Service in England, Scotland and Wales. Of these, 14 have passed the departmental training examination; three are qualified members of CIPFA; and 17 are undergoing training for that qualification. The Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland employs four staff on NHS audit and their qualifications are: one FCCA; one ACIS and two unqualified.