§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many files marked "Not for National Audit Office Eyes" are currently held by his Department. [24846]
§ Sir John WheelerThe responsibility of the National Audit Office does not extend to the six Northern Ireland Departments, which have their own similarly appointed body: the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
There are 13 files in Northern Ireland Departments marked "Not for Northern Ireland Audit Office Eyes".
The marking "Not For NIAO Eyes" is used in accordance with an agreement between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Northern Ireland Audit Office under which documents relating to the handling of relations between Departments and the NIAO are not automatically available to the NIAO while they are current.
The information in respect of the Northern Ireland Office could be provided only at disproportionate cost.