Part 8E+WLocal services: inspection and audit

Chapter 2E+WAudit Commission and auditors: functions and procedure

Benefits inspectionsE+W

147Powers of the Audit Commission relating to benefitsE+W

(1)In section 13 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (reports by Audit Commission relating to best value authorities), after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A)If a report relates to any extent to the administration of housing benefit or council tax benefit and the Commission thinks fit to do so, it shall as soon as reasonably practicable send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.”

(2)[F1In section 139D of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) (power of Secretary of State to give directions following report), in subsection (1), after paragraph (ba) insert—

“(bb)a copy of a report has been sent to a local authority under subsection (3) of section 13 of the Local Government Act 1999 and to the Secretary of State under subsection (4A) of that section;”.]

F2148Benefit Fraud Inspectorate: transfers to the Audit CommissionE+W

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Interaction with other authoritiesE+W

F3149Interaction of the Audit Commission with other authoritiesE+W

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150Interaction of benefits inspectors with the Audit CommissionE+W

[F4After section 139B of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) insert—

139BA“Interaction with Audit Commission

(1)A person authorised under section 139A(1) must from time to time, or at such times as the Secretary of State may specify by order, prepare—

(a)a document setting out what inspections of English authorities he proposes to carry out (an “inspection programme”);

(b)a document setting out the way in which he proposes to carry out his functions of inspecting and reporting on such authorities (an “inspection framework”).

(2)The person authorised under section 139A(1) must—

(a)consult the Audit Commission before preparing an inspection programme or an inspection framework; and

(b)once an inspection programme or inspection framework is prepared, send a copy of it to—

(i)the Secretary of State; and

(ii)the Audit Commission.

(3)The Secretary of State may by order specify the form that inspection programmes or inspection frameworks must take.

(4)A person authorised under section 139A(1)—

(a)must co-operate with the Audit Commission, and

(b)may act jointly with the Audit Commission,

where it is appropriate to do so for the efficient and effective discharge of the person's functions in relation to English authorities.

(5)In this section—

• “the Audit Commission” means the Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England;

• “English authorities” means authorities administering housing benefit or council tax benefit in England;

• “person” does not include the Audit Commission.”]

Inspections and auditE+W

151Powers of auditors and inspectors to obtain informationE+W

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

(2)In section 11 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (inspectors' powers and duties in connection with best value inspections)—

(a)after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)The right conferred by subsection (1)(b) includes power to inspect, copy or take away the document.”;

(b)after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A)In relation to a document kept in electronic form, the power in subsection (2)(b) to require a person to produce a document includes power to require it to be produced in a form in which it is legible and can be taken away.

(2B)In connection with inspecting such a document, an inspector—

(a)may obtain access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and associated apparatus or material which he considers is or has been used in connection with the document;

(b)may require a person within subsection (2C) to afford him such reasonable assistance as he may require for that purpose.

(2C)A person is within this subsection if he is—

(a)the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been used; or

(b)a person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material.”;

(c)in subsection (5), after “reasonable excuse” insert “ obstructs the exercise of any power conferred by this section or ”.

152Inspections of best value authoritiesE+W

(1)Section 10 of the Local Government Act 1999 (inspections) is amended as follows.

(2)Before subsection (1) insert—

“(A1)The Audit Commission may carry out an inspection of a best value authority's performance of its functions or of any particular function or functions.”

(3)In subsection (1), after “may” insert “ , in particular, ”.

Studies and reports etcE+W

F6153National studiesE+W

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154Studies at request of particular bodiesE+W

In the Audit Commission Act 1998, omit—

(a)section 35 (studies at request of bodies subject to audit);

(b)section 35A (studies for functional bodies at request of Greater London Authority).

155Registered social landlordsE+W

(1)In section 40(1) of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (studies relating to registered social landlords), omit “(other than registered social landlords in Wales)”.

F7(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F8(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)Omit section 42 of that Act (consultancy services relating to audit of accounts of registered social landlords).

F9(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

156Information about performance standards of local authorities etcE+W

In the Audit Commission Act 1998 (c. 18), omit sections 44 to 47 (publication of information about standards of performance).

F10157Reports on English local authoritiesE+W

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F11158Reports categorising English local authoritiesE+W

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MiscellaneousE+W

F12159Appointment of auditorsE+W

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F12160Inspection and disclosure of personal informationE+W

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F12161Right to make objections at auditE+W

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F12162Appointment of auditor to carry out agreed auditsE+W

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F12163Consent for the purposes of agreed auditE+W

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F12164Disclosure of information obtained by the Audit Commission or an auditorE+W

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F12165Publication of information by the Audit CommissionE+W

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