What topics should the Wales Audit Office be looking into?

What topics should the Wales Audit Office be looking into?

The Wales Audit Office is asking members of the public for the first time what topics they think it should be looking into over the next few years.
The Wales Audit Office is asking members of the public for the first time what topics they think it should be looking into over the next few years. The national studies programme includes proposals for value for money examinations which can cover the whole of the Welsh public sector, plus studies focusing on local government.

You can find the list of topics we are thinking of looking into in our consultation report, which can be found on the Wales Audit Office website: www.wao.gov.uk. These topics include:

* The Assembly Government’s response to the economic downturn
* Inland flooding
* Waste reduction and minimisation
* Financial management in schools

We would like to know what you think of our current list of topics and if there is anything else you think we should look into.
If you would like to respond to our consultation, you can do so in the following ways:

* submit your views online;
* email your views to us at info@wao.gov.uk
* download and complete the response form on page 18 (Appendix 2) of the consultation report and post it back to: Studies Consultation, 24 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ;
* the consultation period closes on March 26

Gillian Body, the new Auditor General for Wales said today:

‘This is the first time we have asked the public for their views on the topics we should look into. This consultation process will help me to plan a work programme that focuses on the things that matter most to people.

Ensuring that public money is well spent is at the heart of what we do – and is vital at this time when public services are facing the combined challenges of the impact of the economic downturn and the anticipated reduction in public spending.’

Notes to editors

* Our work falls into three broad categories – the financial audit of accounts, performance audit and a stream of work aimed at identifying and sharing good practice.
* The Auditor General is responsible for auditing the accounts of the National Assembly, the Assembly Government and its sponsored bodies and the National Health Service. She also appoints auditors to the 22 local and three national park authorities, the fire and rescue services, police authorities, probation boards and community councils.
* The Wales Audit Office is independent of government and is responsible for the annual audit of some £20 billion of annual public expenditure.
* Its mission is to promote improvement, so that people in Wales benefit from accountable, well-managed public services that offer the best possible value for money. It is also committed to identify and spreading good practice across the Welsh public sector.