§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many commercial accountancy firms have been given contracts to undertake audits of health authorities previously carried out by Department of Health and Social Security auditors.
§ Mr. John PattenNine firms of accountants now hold contracts to undertake audits of 14 district health authorities previously audited by staff of the audit directorate of the Department of Health and Social Security. Details of the initial appointments were given in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Cockeram) on 11 March 1982—[Vol. 19, c.474–75]—and of further appointments in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 21 July 1983.—[Vol. 46, c. 211–12]