§ Mr. Budgenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the Chief Inspector of Audit for 1978–79 is to be published.
§ Mr. KingThe Chief Inspector's report is being published today and copies have been placed in the Library.
This wide-ranging and important report deals with a number of issues in local government, including apparent gross defects and weaknesses in many local authority incentive bonus schemes. It is critical of the funding of polytechnics and raises pointed questions about the low level of lecturers' class contact hours in some of these colleges. It also surveys the role of the auditors in value for money auditing.
Some of these questions fall totally within local authorities' sphere of respon- 550W sibility, others are of relevance to central Government as well. They all merit close consideration and attention. For this reason my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I will be sending copies to the chairman of the local authority association in England and in Wales.
Coming as it does from the Chief Inspector of Audit with his knowledge of local government and his independent status the report has great authority. I therefore urge everyone in local government to study this report. Value for money and efficiency have never been more important than in the current situation. The report highlights areas where many local authorities could make significant improvements.
The report is being considered by the advisory committee on local government audit, which will be making recommendations to the consultative council on local government finance.