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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee (LegCo PAC) continued its duty visit in London, United Kingdom (UK) today (March 24). The delegation will visit the National Audit Office and meet with officials of the Her Majesty's Treasury and the Efficiency Reform Group of the Cabinet Office.
The delegation attended a meeting with the Audit Commission of the Local Authorities in England and Wales (the Audit Commission) yesterday (March 23) to obtain a better understanding on the work of the Commission. The Audit Commission is an independent public corporation responsible for the audit of accounts of local governments and other local public bodies, and driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services. The delegation is aware that in August 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the UK Government announced plans to disband the Audit Commission and introduce new arrangements for auditing England's local public bodies by the 2012-2013 financial year.
The delegation also met with Ms Julie Carney, Deputy Director (Future of Local Audit), Department for Communities and Local Government, to find out more about the UK Government's plan on the future of audit services to local government bodies after the proposed disbandment of the Audit Commission.
The delegation also had a meeting with Mr Michael O'Higgins (Chairman), Mr Bharat Shah (Deputy Chairman), and Commissioners of the governing board of the Audit Commission, as well as Mr Eugene Sullivan, Chief Executive, and other senior staff of the Audit Commission. They briefed members of the delegation on the Audit Commission's work in relation to the provision of audit services to local public bodies, and the issues associated with its proposed disbandment.
In addition, the delegation was pleased to have the opportunity to observe the Prime Minister's Question Time and the delivery of the Budget Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons.
The delegation will then depart from London to Hong Kong in the evening today and complete its duty visit to London, UK.
Ends/Thursday, March 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:03
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