§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the average costs to parish councils, broken down into bands according to size, of the internal audit work, in the new lighter touch audit scheme, which will be required to be carried out in addition to the main audit; and if he will make a statement. [77051]
§ Mr. RaynsfordInformation on the cost to parish councils of internal audit is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The new 'lighter touch' audit regime does not impose any new internal audit requirements. There has been a legal requirement for councils to maintain a system of internal audit for many years, and guidance on good practice on carrying out internal audit is available from the national associations representing parish councils.