§ Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the increasing importance of audits as an element in modern financial control, he will now make definite arrangements to obtain the assistance of some professionally-qualified accountants for supervising the audit of the accounts of the National Health Service Hospital Authorities.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo. As I have informed my hon. Friend, the present National Health Service audit service conforms with other comparable audit services in the Civil Service. All the senior staff have had practical experience in accountancy and auditing, and I do not think any change is called for.