§ 28. Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the powers available to district auditors to require the prompt attendance of witnesses and to avoid the destruction of documentary evidence relevant to their investigations.
§ Mr. CurryAuditors already have extensive powers, set out in section 16 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982, to obtain documents and interview persons to enable them to carry out their audits. Nevertheless, I would be willing to consider specific, soundly based proposals to review those powers.
§ 33. Mr. DowdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the powers available to district auditors to require the prompt attendance of witnesses and presentation of evidence relevant to their investigations.
§ Mr. BaldryI refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Planning gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Heppell).