§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, her departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22556]
§ Mr. Robin SquireWhere 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.
In a reply to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) of 3 March 1994 Official Report, column 808, it was reported that the Secretary of State had not since 1979 issued any formal instructions to 368W override the advice of his accounting officer on a matter of propriety or regularity or one relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness. No direction has been issued since the date of that reply.
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.