§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it mandatory for local authorities to have independent assessments made of their efficiency.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Local Government Finance Act 1982 established the Audit Commission as an independent body to supervise the audit of local government. Auditors, who are appointed by the commission, have been given a specific duty to assess economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and the commission has a general duty to undertake studies for improving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the provision of local authority services.