HC Deb 08 March 1990 vol 168 cc798-9W
Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 sub-contracted to private firms and at what cost.

Mr. David Hunt

[holding answer 7 March 1990]: In 1989 there were 17 internal auditors in DoE (Central) together with three other staff at a cost of £356,000. The internal audit unit produced 28 reports, none of which was drawn to the attention of Ministers. No internal audit work was sub-contracted to private firms.

During the same period there were 72 auditors in the Property Services Agency and four support staff at a cost of £1,481,000. The internal audit unit produced 253 reports, none of which was drawn to the attention of Ministers. The PSA employed consultants for 244 days at a cost of £46,000.