§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82".
§ Mr. WhitneyAt 4 June 1984 there were 20 staff employed in the joint internal audit unit servicing the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The complement of posts was recently increased to 24 and identification of staff to fill the four vacant posts is under way. All staff in post were established civil servants, with the following grades and qualifications:
Head of Joint Internal Audit Unit. Senior Principal. ACMA.
Diplomatic Wing Audit Unit
- Head Principal. FCA.
- Deputy Head DS6. No formal qualification
Supported by
- Five staff at DS7/HEO. One HND Business Studies. Four no formal qualification.
- Five staff at DS/9E0. No formal qualification
Aid Wing Audit Unit
Head. Principal. IPFA
Supported by
- Two staff at HEO. One NCC Basic Certificate in systems analysis. One no formal qualification.
- Four staff at EO. One with non-relevant degree. Three no formal qualification.
Of the staff not in possession of a relevant professional qualification, 11—five of whom are studying for the professional qualification examinations of the Institute of Internal Auditors—are undertaking a course of training which meets the basic audit training standard laid down by Her Majesty's Treasury. The remaining six are due to start the formal programme of training leading up to the professional qualification examination of the Institute of Internal Auditors within the next three months. The deputy head of the diplomatic wing is also being given specialised computer audit training.
The nine primary standards laid down in "Government Accounting 9/82" have been accepted and adopted by both the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Further training of, and experience for, the junior staff within the unit are required before it will be in a position to increase the number of more broadly-based efficiency audits. Considerable importance is attached to the development of a programme 46W of theoretical and "on the job" training which meets the basic audit training standard. The positive effects of this will be felt over the next two years.