[F1145BStudies at request of educational bodiesU.K.

(1)The Auditor General for Wales may undertake studies designed to enable him to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the functions of a body specified in the first column of the Table, if requested to do so by the body (or one of the bodies) specified in relation to it in the second column of the Table.

F5( 1A ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)[F6Subsection (1) does] not entitle the Auditor General for Wales to question the merits of the policy objectives of a body.

(3)Where the Auditor General for Wales undertakes a study under subsection (1) F7... he may, with the consent of the body that requested the study, arrange for a report containing—

(a)the results of the study, and

(b)his recommendations (if any),

to be laid before the Assembly.

(4)The Auditor General for Wales may, at the request of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, give the council advice in connection with the discharge of the council’s functions under section 124B(2)(b) of the Education Reform Act 1988 or paragraph 18(2)(b) of Schedule 7 to that Act.

(5)The Auditor General for Wales may, at the request of a higher education corporation or further education corporation in Wales—

(a)advise them in connection with the appointment of persons to audit their accounts;

[F8(b)audit their accounts for a financial year.] 

(6)In subsection (5)—

(a) “ higher education corporation ” and “ further education corporation ” have the same meaning as in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992;

(b)references to the accounts of a higher education corporation include references to a statement of accounts prepared by the corporation under section 124B of the Education Reform Act 1988 or paragraph 18 of Schedule 7 to that Act.

(7)This section must be construed as one with the Education Act 1996; and references in any enactment to the Education Acts include this section.]