§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to obtain an extraordinary audit of the London borough of Lambeth for the year 1978–79.
§ Mr. KingMy right hon. Friend has received applications from several residents of Lambeth from the Conservative group on the council, the Streatham Chamber of Commerce and others, to 531W direct an extraordinary audit of the council's accounts.
However, because the annual audit of the borough of Lambeth's 1978–79 accounts opened on 7 January, local electors are now in a position not only to object to items in that financial year but also to draw the district auditor's attention to any matters of concern to them in the current year's account. This obviates any need there might have been for an extraordinary audit.
The district auditor has to date received objections from four local electors and a public hearing is being arranged.