District Auditors (Hansard, 24 January 1992)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, for each year since 1983, he will list all the public interest reports issued by district auditors, showing the names of the local authorities concerned, the dates they were issued and the political control of those authorities at the time the reports were issued.

§ Mr. Key
Auditors are required to send copies of public interest reports concerning local authorities to the Audit Commission and do not send copies to the Secretary of State for the Environment. Any available information will be obtainable from the Audit Commission.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage the fees payable by local authorities for the services of district auditors were increased each year since 1979; and what was the annual rate of inflation applying at the time of each increase.

§ Mr. Key
Increases in audit fee rates charged to local authorities in England and Wales are not readily available for the years prior to 1984. In subsequent years provincial fee rates have increased as shown in the table. Provincial fee rates cover around 70 per cent. of authorities. Supplements are charged to authorities in London and the south-east to cover additional costs.

Year Per cent. rise compared to previous year GDP deflator index (per. cent. inflation)

1984–85 0.0 5.0

1985–86 7.1 5.5

1986–87 5.8 3.3

1987–88 6.5 5.4

1988–89 5.8 7.2

1989–90 8.1 6.5

1990–91 10.4 8.5

1991–92 6.5 7.0

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid by local authorities, in England and Wales, in fees to district auditors each year since 1979, expressed in(a) current prices and (b) 1991 prices.

§ Mr. Key
The gross fee income obtained from local authorities in England and Wales before 1983–84 is not readily available. The amounts of gross fee income obtained from the annual reports and accounts of the Audit Commission for 1983–84 onwards are as listed.
350W

Gross fee income (£000)

Year Current prices 1991 prices¹

1983–84 14,987 22,391

1984–85 20,002 28,459

1985–86 21,477 28,960

1986–87 23,663 30,892

1987–88 25,388 31,434

1988–89 27,936 32,272

1989–90 31,881 34,586

1990–91 37,958 37,958

¹ Calculated using GDP deflator index.

Year	Per cent. rise compared to previous year	GDP deflator index (per. cent. inflation)
1984–85	0.0	5.0
1985–86	7.1	5.5
1986–87	5.8	3.3
1987–88	6.5	5.4
1988–89	5.8	7.2
1989–90	8.1	6.5
1990–91	10.4	8.5
1991–92	6.5	7.0

	Gross fee income (£000)
Year	Current prices	1991 prices¹
1983–84	14,987	22,391
1984–85	20,002	28,459
1985–86	21,477	28,960
1986–87	23,663	30,892
1987–88	25,388	31,434
1988–89	27,936	32,272
1989–90	31,881	34,586
1990–91	37,958	37,958
¹ Calculated using GDP deflator index.