§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22558]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryWhere a Minster overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money, the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question. No such instructions have been issued during the last 10 years.
All such instructions are now reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General who, after making whatever investigations he considers appropriate, will report his finding to the Public Accounts Committee.