§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee report (HC 174411) of its inquiry into the work of the Audit Commission and the second stage of the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Audit Commission; and if he will make a statement. [141299]
§ Ms ArmstrongI have today laid before Parliament the Government's response to the Select Committee Report on the Audit Commission. I have also today published the Government's response to the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Audit Commission (FMPR).
In formulating our response to the Select Committee we have had regard to the work of the School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham which recently completed the second stage of the FMPR. This Report, which we are also publishing today, recognises the Commission as a well managed organisation providing important benefits at reasonable cost. Copies of this Report and our response to it have been placed in the House Library. We have also published the FMPR Reports and Select Committee responses to them on the DETR website.
The Government welcomed the overall findings of both the Select Committee and the FMPR that the Audit Commission is a well respected body, which is doing a difficult task well. The Government have a high regard for the work of the Commission and this has been reflected in our decision to give the Commission a pivotal role in our best value plans for local government including the establishment of a Best Value Inspection service. The Commission has also been asked to develop a new inspection capacity in the NHS alongside that of the Commission for Health Improvement.