§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment how many times in the last 10 years, and on what dates, his departmental accounting officer has issue a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22566]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordWhere a Minister 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.
I am not aware that any such instruction has been issued to the accounting officer of my Department during the period in question.
All such instructions are reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General who, after making whatever investigations he considers appropriate, will report his findings to the Public Accounts Committee.