§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for each of the last three recorded years, how many complaints were made to, respectively, the district auditor and private accountants auditing local government accounts; how many of such complaints were found to be substantiated in each category; how many of such cases were recommended for surchage in each category; and how many of such recommendations were upheld by him.
§ Mr. Graham PageFollowing is the information about objections made to district auditors:
Accounts for years 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 (a) Objections made 79 61 32 (b) Objections upheld by district auditor 1 1 — (c) Objections under (b) subject of surcharge by district auditor — 1 — There were no appeals to the Secretary of State from surcharges made by a district auditor. I have no information about objections in respect of accounts which are audited by private accountants. The latter have now power to surcharge.