Audit Commission (Hansard, 22 May 2003)

§ Mr. Pickles
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the outturn expenditure of the Audit Commission was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; what the estimated expenditure is in the forthcoming financial year; and if he will make a statement. [111077]

§ Mr. Leslie
Information on expenditure by the Audit Commission at constant 2002–03 prices is tabled as followed:

£ million

Year Expenditure

1 April 1996–31 March 1997 111.1

1 April 1997–31 October 1997 71

1 November 1997–31 October 1998 120.1

1 November 2002–31 October 2003 217 (estimated)

Note:
The Audit Commission's financial year, which is earlier years ran from 1 April to 31 March, was amended to run from 1 November to 31 October with effect from 1 November 1997. Information on the transitional seven-month period 1 April 1997–31 is therefore shown separately.
The Commission has taken on a significant number of new responsibilities since 1997, notably those derived from the Local Government Act 1999 on local authority performance. These included the setting up of the best value inspection service and the development of the comprehensive performance assessment process.

§ Mr. Pickles
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) staff (full-time equivalent) and (b) press and public affairs staff were employed by the Audit Commission in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98; how many are employed now; and if he will make a statement. [111078]

§ Mr. Leslie
The information requested on staff directly employed by the Audit Commission is tabled as follows:

Year Total staff directly employed Press and public affairs staff directly employed

1996–97 1,277 1

1997–98 1,349 1

2002–03 2,400 8

Note:
During 1996–97 and 1997–98, the majority of press office and public affairs work was contracted out to an external consultant. The press office is now located in-house, although some advice on public affairs is obtained from an external consultant.
978W
The Commission has taken on a significant number of new responsibilities since 1997, notably those derived from the Local Government Act 1999 on local authority performance. These included the setting up of the best value inspection service and the development of the comprehensive performance assessment process.

£ million
Year	Expenditure
1 April 1996–31 March 1997	111.1
1 April 1997–31 October 1997	71
1 November 1997–31 October 1998	120.1
1 November 2002–31 October 2003	217 (estimated)

Year	Total staff directly employed	Press and public affairs staff directly employed
1996–97	1,277	1
1997–98	1,349	1
2002–03	2,400	8