§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many internal auditors are employed in those departments for which he is responsible and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 7 March 1990]: A total of 180 internal auditors are employed in departments for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor is responsible. Their direct costs amount to £3.767 million 749W per annum. A total of 272 reports were produced in 1989 or in the nearest convenient accounting period. One of these was drawn to the attention of a Minister.
Internal audit work in three departments was sub-contracted to private firms. In two of these, the whole internal audit function was contracted out; in the other department specialist expertise was obtained. The total cost of these sub-contracts amounted to £65,000.