29 March 2002
The NAO's comptroller and auditor general said he welcomed the recent acceptance by ministers of Lord Sharman's recommendations in his report, Audit and accountability in central government. These propose extending the NAO's ability to scrutinise public and private bodies that receive public funds.
Bourn highlighted the commitment to grant him a statutory right of access to documents held by organisations such as registered social landlords, train operating companies and private contractors working for public bodies. He said he was particularly pleased that in future he would be the auditor, on behalf of Parliament, of all non-departmental public bodies.
Elsewhere in his report, he said that although most Whitehall departments were making good progress in moving to resource accounting, a minority were still submitting accounts that were late and of poor quality.
'The NAO has noted an over-reliance on too few key personnel and a lack of technically competent supporting staff as a key factor contributing to delays.'
PFmar2002
