§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken to strengthen the Central Electricity Generating Board's financial control systems in the light of the observations of Judge Stroyan on 10 December at Teesside Crown court; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThe offences which gave rise to the case were committed between 1976 and 1982. The Central Electricity Generating Board subsequently introduced revised financial control procedures which were the subject of a satisfactory report by the board's auditors, Peat Marwick, Mitchell and Co. At my right hon. Friend's request the auditors provided a subsequent report which was received earlier this year. Like the previous report, it was undertaken with particular reference to the north-eastern region of the board but was of more general application. In it, the auditors concluded that the board's revised procedures constituted an adequate system of control over contract expenditure.