§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission (1) what plans he has to centralise the functions of the Audit Office by relocating the employment and training division from Sheffield to London;
(2) what estimate he has made for the cost of relocating the employment and training division of the Audit Office from Sheffield to London; and what estimates have been made of the travelling expenses that would arise from such a relocation.
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§ Sir Peter HordernDecisions on the administration and organisation of the NAO are a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General to take within his budget, which is considered by the Public Accounts Commission on behalf of the House.
I understand that the NAO has 15 staff in Sheffield who undertake the audit of the Department of Employment, the Employment Services Agency and a number of non-departmental public bodies. This work is carried out at various locations across the country but only 4 per cent. has to be done in Sheffield.
As part of a continuing appraisal of the scope for improving efficiency in its audit, the NAO has decided to reorganise the handling of the work carried out from its Sheffield office. The NAO has estimated that it will achieve a net saving of £1 million over 10 years by arranging for some of the work to be undertaken by private sector accountancy firms located where the work needs to be done and by transferring responsibility for other work to its headquarters in London.