§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to what proportion of central Government audits is undertaken by National Audit Office staff and what proportion is contracted out to private firms of accountants.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 29 June I988]: The Treasury is currently building up a data base on public bodies' audit arrangements. Of the central Government bodies and accounts covered so far about 60 per cent. are audited by National Audit Office staff and about 40 per cent. by private accountants.