§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received, and from what sources, in favour of continued auditing of local authority accounts by auditors other than district auditors; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineThe County Councils Association, the Association of Municipal Corporations, the London Boroughs Association, and the Insitute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales have represented to the Secretary of State that local authorities should have the option to choose between district and private audit of their accounts. Those views were noted and were taken into accoutn in the statement I made on 15th February in Standing Committee on Clause 151 of the Local Government Bill.