Part 1 Auditor General for Wales

New functions of the Auditor General for Wales

1 Transfer of functions of Assembly

After section 146 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) insert—

“146A Transfer etc of functions of Assembly

(1) The Assembly may, with the consent of the Auditor General for Wales, by order provide for any of its supervisory functions in respect of a public body or a registered social landlord in Wales—

(a) to be exercised on its behalf by the Auditor General for Wales, or

(b) to be transferred to the Auditor General for Wales.

(2) In this section—

• “public body” means—

  (a)

  a body exercising functions of a public nature, or

  (b)

  a body entirely or substantially funded from public money,

  (and for this purpose “body” includes office);

• “registered social landlord in Wales” means a body which is—

  (a)

  registered as a social landlord under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996, and

  (b)

  mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 56(2) of that Act;

• “supervisory functions”, in respect of a public body or a registered social landlord in Wales, means functions of examining, inspecting, reviewing or studying the financial or other management of the public body or registered social landlord or the way in which it discharges any of its functions.

(3) The Assembly may direct the Auditor General for Wales to prepare a report on his exercise, generally or in respect of a specific body or matter, of any function transferred to him by an order under subsection (1)(b).

(4) The Auditor General for Wales must lay before the Assembly any report prepared by him in accordance with a direction under subsection (3).

(5) An order under subsection (1) may contain any appropriate consequential, incidental, supplementary or transitional provisions or savings (including provisions in the form of amendments or repeals of enactments).”

2 Additional functions of Auditor General

After section 96 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) insert—

“96A Reports in public interest

(1) Where the Auditor General for Wales thinks that it would be in the public interest for him to bring to the public’s attention a matter coming to his notice in the course of an examination or study to which subsection (2) applies, he may prepare a report on that matter.

(2) This subsection applies to—

(a) an examination of auditable accounts (other than accounts falling to be examined under section 96(3)(a)), and

(b) an examination or study under section 100, 145 or 145A, except one undertaken at the request of the body or bodies to which it relates.

(3) The Auditor General for Wales must, as soon as practicable after preparing a report under subsection (1), lay the report before the Assembly.

(4) In this section “auditable accounts” has the meaning given in section 95(7).

96B Certification of claims, returns etc.

(1) The Auditor General for Wales must, if so required by a relevant body, make arrangements for—

(a) certifying any claim or return in respect of a grant made or subsidy paid to that body by the Assembly, a Minister of the Crown or a public authority;

(b) certifying any account submitted by that body to the Assembly or a Minister of the Crown with a view to obtaining payment under a contract between that body and the Assembly or, as the case may be, the Minister;

(c) certifying that body’s calculation under paragraph 5(6)(a) of Schedule 8 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988 of the amount of its non-domestic rating contribution for a financial year, and for certifying the amount calculated;

(d) certifying any return by that body which, by or under any enactment, is required or authorised to be certified by the body’s auditor or under arrangements made by the Auditor General for Wales.

(2) In this section—

• “public authority” means a body established by or under the Community Treaties or any enactment; and

• “relevant body” means—

  (a)

  a body whose accounts, or statements of accounts, are “auditable accounts” within the meaning given in section 95(7), or

  (b)

  a local government body in Wales (within the meaning given in section 12(1) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004).

96C Ancillary powers of Auditor General

(1) Arrangements may be made between the Auditor General for Wales and a relevant authority—

(a) for any function of that authority to be exercised by, or by a member of the staff of, the Auditor General for Wales, or

(b) for administrative, professional or technical services to be provided by him to that authority or by that authority to him.

(2) Any arrangements under subsection (1)(a) for the exercise of any function of a relevant authority do not affect the responsibility of the relevant authority on whose behalf the function is exercised.

(3) The Auditor General for Wales and—

(a) a relevant authority,

(b) a qualified auditor, or

(c) an accountancy body,

may make arrangements to co-operate with, and give assistance to, each other if each considers that to do so would facilitate, or be conducive to, the exercise of his or its own functions.

(4) The Auditor General for Wales may make arrangements under this section on such terms and conditions, including conditions as to payment, as he thinks fit.

(5) In this section—

• “accountancy body” means—

  (a)

  a body which is a recognised supervisory body for the purposes of Part 2 of the Companies Act 1989, or

  (b)

  a body of accountants, established in the United Kingdom or another EEA State, which is for the time being approved by the Assembly for the purposes of this section;

• “EEA State” means any State which is a Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992, as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993;

• “qualified auditor” means a person eligible to be appointed as an auditor under section 14 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (auditors appointed in respect of local government bodies in Wales); and

• “relevant authority” means any government department, any local or other public authority or the holder of any public office.”

Accountability of certain public bodies in Wales

3 Studies for improving economy etc in services

After section 145 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) insert—

“145A Studies for improving economy etc in services

(1) The Auditor General for Wales may undertake or promote studies designed to enable him to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the functions of any relevant body or bodies.

(2) The Auditor General for Wales may also undertake or promote other studies relating to the provision of services by any relevant body or bodies.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not entitle the Auditor General for Wales to question the merits of the policy objectives of any relevant body.

(4) In determining how to exercise his functions under this section, the Auditor General for Wales shall take into account the views of the Audit Committee as to the studies which he should undertake or promote under this section.

(5) For the purposes of this section each of the following is a “relevant body”—

(a) a person who prepares auditable accounts within the meaning given in section 95(7);

(b) any other person (other than a local government body in Wales) in relation to whom, by virtue of provision made by or under this or any other Act, the Auditor General for Wales carries out examinations or studies relating to the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which that person has used his resources in discharging his functions;

(c) a person (other than a registered social landlord in Wales) in respect of whom the Auditor General for Wales has functions by virtue of provision made under section 146A.

(6) Where the Auditor General for Wales undertakes or promotes a study under this section he may arrange for a report containing—

(a) the results of the study, and

(b) his recommendations (if any),

to be laid before the Assembly.

(7) In this section—

• “local government body in Wales” has the meaning given in section 12(1) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004; and

• “registered social landlord in Wales” has the meaning given in section 146A(2).”

4 Studies at request of educational bodies

After section 145A of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (inserted by section 3) insert—

“145B Studies at request of educational bodies

(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.

(2) Subsection (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) 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;

(b) arrange for their accounts for a financial year to be audited by one or more members of the staff of the Auditor General for Wales appointed by the corporation.

(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.”

5 Studies relating to registered social landlords

After section 145B of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (inserted by section 4) insert—

“145C Studies relating to registered social landlords

(1) The Assembly and the Auditor General for Wales may agree on one or more programmes of studies designed to enable the Auditor General for Wales to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the functions of registered social landlords in Wales.

(2) If a programme is agreed, the Auditor General for Wales shall ensure that studies giving effect to the programme are undertaken by him or on his behalf.

(3) It shall be a term of every such programme that the Assembly make good to the Auditor General for Wales the full costs incurred by him in undertaking the programme.

(4) This section does not entitle the Auditor General for Wales to question the merits of the policy objectives of a registered social landlord in Wales.

(5) Where a study is undertaken under this section by the Auditor General for Wales or on his behalf, he may arrange for a report containing—

(a) the results of the study, and

(b) his recommendations (if any),

to be laid before the Assembly.

(6) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he fails to comply with a requirement imposed under section 95(3)(a) or (b) in relation to a study under this section.

(7) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) The Auditor General for Wales may disclose to the Assembly information obtained by him or a person acting on his behalf in the course of a study under this section.

(9) “Registered social landlord in Wales” means a body which is—

(a) registered as a social landlord under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996, and

(b) mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 56(2) of that Act.”

Funding of Auditor General

6 Expenses and accounts

(1) Section 93 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (expenses, fees and accounts) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) after “him” insert “or met by virtue of subsection (2A)”.

(3) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) The Auditor General for Wales may borrow sums in sterling by way of overdraft or otherwise for the purpose of meeting a temporary excess of expenditure over sums otherwise available to meet that expenditure.”

(4) After subsection (6) insert—

“(6A) Nothing in subsection (5) or (6) authorises the Audit Committee—

(a) to examine that part of any estimate which relates to estimated income or expenditure of the office of the Auditor General for Wales relating to Part 2 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (local government bodies in Wales), or

(b) to lay an estimate before the Assembly with modifications relating to such estimated income or expenditure.”

7 Fees

After section 93 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (the title to which becomes “Expenses and accounts”) insert—

“93A Fees

(1) The Auditor General for Wales may charge a fee for auditing a person’s accounts.

(2) Where the Auditor General for Wales—

(a) provides services under section 96(3)(b) by carrying out an examination in relation to a person, or

(b) at the request of any person other than the Assembly, provides services under section 145A,

the Auditor General for Wales may charge that person a fee not exceeding the full cost of providing those services.

(3) Where the Auditor General for Wales—

(a) provides services to a body under section 96B, or

(b) provides services at the request of a body under section 145B of this Act or section 44 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (studies at request of local government bodies in Wales),

the Auditor General for Wales must charge that body a fee which covers the full cost of providing those services.

(4) For the purposes of this section “body” includes a local government body in Wales (within the meaning given in section 12(1) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004).”

Administrative matters

8 Auditor General’s seal

In section 90 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (establishment of office of Auditor General for Wales), after subsection (7) insert—

“(8) The application of the seal of the Auditor General for Wales is to be authenticated by the signature of—

(a) the Auditor General for Wales, or

(b) any member of his staff authorised by him (generally or specially) for that purpose.

(9) A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal of the Auditor General for Wales or to be signed on his behalf may be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, is to be taken to be so executed or signed.”

9 Staff etc of the Auditor General

(1) Section 92 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (appointment and remuneration of staff etc of Auditor General for Wales) is amended as follows.

(2) Omit subsections (1) and (3).

(3) In subsection (6)—

(a) for “The Assembly” substitute “The Auditor General for Wales”, and

(b) for “he”, in both places it occurs, substitute “the Minister”.

(4) For subsection (8) substitute—

“(8) Any function of the Auditor General for Wales may be exercised by—

(a) a member of his staff, or

(b) a person providing services to him,

who is authorised by the Auditor General for Wales for that purpose.

(8A) Any function of the Auditor General for Wales may be exercised jointly by him and a person providing services to him who is authorised by him for that purpose.

(8B) Any provision made under subsection (8) for the exercise of any function does not affect the responsibility of the Auditor General for Wales on whose behalf the function is exercised.”

(5) In subsection (9) for “for the Assembly” substitute “within subsection (9A)”.

(6) After that subsection insert—

“(9A) Accounts (or statements of accounts) are within this subsection if, in accordance with provision made by or under this or any other Act, they—

(a) fall to be examined by the Auditor General for Wales, and

(b) are required to be laid before the Assembly.”

10 Accounting officer

After section 94 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) insert—

“94A Accounting officer

(1) The accounting officer for the Wales Audit Office is the Auditor General for Wales.

(2) But where—

(a) the Auditor General for Wales is incapable of discharging his responsibilities as accounting officer, or

(b) the office of Auditor General for Wales is vacant,

the Audit Committee may designate a member of the staff of the Auditor General for Wales to be the accounting officer for so long as paragraph (a) or (b) applies.

(3) The accounting officer for the Wales Audit Office has, in relation to the accounts of the Auditor General for Wales and the finances of the Wales Audit Office, the responsibilities which are from time to time specified by the Audit Committee.

(4) In this section references to responsibilities include in particular—

(a) responsibilities in relation to the signing of accounts,

(b) responsibilities for the propriety and regularity of the finances of the Wales Audit Office, and

(c) responsibilities for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the resources of the Wales Audit Office are used.

(5) The responsibilities which may be specified under this section include responsibilities owed to—

(a) the Audit Committee, or

(b) the House of Commons or its Committee of Public Accounts.

(6) If requested to do so by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, the Audit Committee may—

(a) on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts take evidence from the accounting officer for the Wales Audit Office, and

(b) report to the Committee of Public Accounts and transmit to that Committee any evidence so taken.

(7) In this section “the Wales Audit Office” means the Auditor General for Wales and the members of his staff.”

11 Access to information, etc by Auditor General

For section 95 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (access to documents by Auditor General for Wales) substitute—

“95 Access to documents by Auditor General

(1) The Auditor General for Wales has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to a relevant person which appears to him necessary—

(a) for the purposes of his examination of any auditable accounts;

(b) for the purposes of undertaking studies under section 145A or 145C;

(c) for the purposes of carrying out, in accordance with any provision made by or by virtue of this or any other Act, other examinations or studies into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which any person has used his resources in discharging his functions.

(2) The documents relating to a relevant person to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies may include, in particular—

(a) a document which is held or controlled by a person who has received financial assistance from the relevant person by means of a grant, loan or guarantee or as a result of the taking of an interest in any property or body corporate;

(b) a document which is held or controlled by a person who has supplied goods or services to the relevant person in pursuance of a contract to which the relevant person was party or has supplied goods or services in pursuance of a relevant sub-contract;

(c) a document of a description specified in an order made by the Assembly.

(3) The Auditor General for Wales may require a person whom he thinks has information of the kind mentioned in subsection (4)—

(a) to give him any assistance, information and explanation which the Auditor General for Wales thinks necessary for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1);

(b) to attend before him in person to—

(i) give the assistance, information or explanation, or

(ii) produce any document which is held or controlled by the person and to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies;

(c) to provide any facility which the Auditor General for Wales may reasonably require for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1).

(4) The information is information which relates to—

(a) a relevant person;

(b) a document to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies; or

(c) a person who holds or controls such a document.

(5) The Auditor General for Wales may, for the purposes of his examination of any auditable accounts, require a relevant person to provide him, at times specified by him, with accounts of such of the person’s transactions as he may specify.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), a contract is a relevant sub-contract if its performance fulfils, or contributes to the fulfilment of, an obligation to supply goods or services to the relevant person in another contract.

(7) In this section—

• “auditable accounts” means any accounts or statement of accounts falling to be examined by the Auditor General for Wales in accordance with any provision made by or by virtue of this or any other Act; and

• “relevant person” means—

  (a)

  in a case within subsection (1)(a)—

  (i)

  the person by whom the auditable accounts are prepared, and

  (ii)

  in the case of any accounts which the Assembly is directed to prepare under section 97, any person to whose financial affairs and transactions the auditable accounts are to relate by virtue of directions under subsection (2) of that section, and

  (b)

  in any other case, a person to whom the study or examination relates.

(8) Before making an order under subsection (2)(c), the Assembly must consult the Treasury and the Auditor General for Wales.”

Part 2 Local government bodies in Wales

Chapter 1 Accounts and audit

Local government bodies in Wales

12 Local government bodies in Wales

(1) In this Part “local government body in Wales” means any of these—

(a) a local authority in Wales;

(b) a committee of a local authority in Wales (including a joint committee of two or more local authorities in Wales);

(c) a port health authority for a port health district wholly in Wales;

(d) a National Park authority for a National Park in Wales;

(e) a conservation board established by order of the Assembly under section 86 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (c. 37);

(f) a police authority for a police area in Wales;

(g) a fire and rescue authority in Wales constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21) or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies;

(h) an internal drainage board for an internal drainage district wholly in Wales;

(i) a local probation board established under section 4 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43) for an area in Wales.

(2) The Assembly may by order amend subsection (1) by—

(a) adding a public body whose functions relate exclusively to Wales or an area of Wales;

(b) omitting a body;

(c) altering the description of a body.

(3) In subsection (2) “public body” means a body which—

(a) exercises functions of a public nature, or

(b) is entirely or substantially funded from public money.

Audit of accounts

13 Audit of accounts of local government bodies in Wales

(1) A local government body in Wales—

(a) must make up its accounts each year to 31 March or such other date as the Assembly may generally or in any special case direct;

(b) must ensure that its accounts are audited in accordance with this Chapter by one or more auditors appointed by the Auditor General for Wales.

(2) The Auditor General for Wales must appoint auditors to audit the accounts of local government bodies in Wales.

14 Appointment of auditors

(1) This section applies in relation to the appointment of persons as auditors under section 13.

(2) The Auditor General for Wales may appoint a person only if the person is eligible for appointment under this section.

(3) But the Auditor General for Wales may not appoint himself.

(4) A person is eligible for appointment under this section only if the person—

(a) is eligible for appointment as a company auditor under section 25 of the Companies Act 1989 (c. 40), or

(b) is a member of a body of accountants, established in the United Kingdom or another EEA State, which is for the time being approved by the Assembly for the purposes of this subsection.

(5) If two or more auditors are appointed to audit the accounts of a body they may be appointed—

(a) to act jointly;

(b) to act separately in relation to different parts of the accounts;

(c) to discharge different functions in relation to the audit.

(6) Before appointing an auditor to audit the accounts of a body the Auditor General for Wales must consult the body.

(7) The Auditor General for Wales may require a body to make available for inspection by him or on his behalf any documents which he reasonably requires for the purpose of assisting him to decide on the appointment of auditors to audit the body’s accounts.

(8) The appointment of an auditor who is not a member of the staff of the Auditor General for Wales must be on the terms, and for the period, determined by the Auditor General for Wales.

(9) In this section “EEA State” means any State which is a Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992, as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th March 1993.

15 Persons to assist auditors

(1) The Auditor General for Wales may approve arrangements for one or more persons to assist an auditor appointed under section 13 by carrying out the functions of the auditor under this Part which are specified in the arrangements.

(2) Arrangements may be approved under subsection (1) either generally or for a particular case or cases.

(3) References in the following provisions of this Part to an auditor include, in relation to a function of an auditor, a person carrying out the function under arrangements approved under subsection (1).

16 Code of audit practice

(1) The Auditor General for Wales may issue a code of audit practice prescribing the way in which auditors are to carry out their functions under this Chapter.

(2) A code issued under this section must embody what appears to the Auditor General for Wales to be the best professional practice with respect to the standards, procedures and techniques to be adopted by auditors.

(3) A code issued under this section may make different provision for different cases.

(4) The Auditor General for Wales must not issue a code under this section unless a draft of the code has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

(5) In preparing a draft of a code under this section the Auditor General for Wales must consult any associations of local authorities in Wales which appear to him to be concerned.

(6) The Auditor General for Wales must arrange for any code issued by him under this section to be published in such manner as he thinks appropriate.

(7) A code issued under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in the same way as a statutory instrument; and section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 (c. 36) applies accordingly.

(8) The Auditor General for Wales may from time to time revise a code previously issued under this section; and subsections (2) to (7) apply to a revised code as they apply to a code as first prepared.

(9) The Assembly may not delegate the function of approving a draft of a code under this section.

17 General duties of auditors

(1) This section applies in relation to the audit of a body’s accounts under this Chapter.

(2) An auditor must, by examination of the accounts and otherwise, satisfy himself of these things—

(a) that the accounts are prepared in accordance with regulations under section 39;

(b) that they comply with the requirements of all other statutory provisions applicable to the accounts;

(c) that proper practices have been observed in the compilation of the accounts;

(d) that the body has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources;

(e) that the body, if required to publish information in pursuance of a direction under section 47 (performance information) has made such arrangements for collecting and recording the information and for publishing it as are required for the performance of its duties under that section.

(3) An auditor must comply with any provisions of a code of audit practice issued under section 16 which—

(a) are applicable to the audit of the accounts being audited, and

(b) are in force.

(4) At any time before there are provisions of a code of audit practice with which an auditor is required to comply under subsection (3), the auditor must comply with any provisions of a code of audit practice issued under section 4 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 (c. 18) which—

(a) are applicable to the audit under that Act of the accounts of bodies of a corresponding description to the body, and

(b) are in force.

18 Auditors' rights to documents and information

(1) An auditor has a right of access at all reasonable times to every document relating to a local government body in Wales which appears to him necessary for the purposes of his functions under this Chapter.

(2) The documents relating to a body to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies may include in particular—

(a) a document which is held or controlled by a person who has received financial assistance from the body by means of a grant, loan or guarantee or as a result of the taking of an interest in any property or body corporate;

(b) a document which is held or controlled by a person who has supplied goods or services to the body in pursuance of a contract to which the body was party or who has supplied goods or services in pursuance of a relevant sub-contract;

(c) a document of a description specified in an order made by the Assembly.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) a contract is a relevant sub-contract if its performance fulfils, or contributes to the fulfilment of, an obligation to supply goods or services to the body in another contract.

(4) An auditor may require a person whom he thinks has information of the kind mentioned in subsection (5)—

(a) to give him any assistance, information and explanation which the auditor thinks necessary for the purposes of his functions under this Chapter;

(b) to attend before him in person to—

(i) give the assistance, information or explanation, or

(ii) produce any document which is held or controlled by the person and to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies.

(5) The information is information which relates to—

(a) a local government body in Wales in relation to which the auditor has functions under this Chapter;

(b) a document to which the right conferred by subsection (1) applies;

(c) a person who holds or controls such a document.

(6) Every local government body in Wales must provide an auditor with every facility and all information which he may reasonably need for the purposes of his functions under this Chapter.

(7) Before making an order under subsection (2)(c) the Assembly must consult—

(a) the Auditor General for Wales, and

(b) any associations of local authorities in Wales which appear to it to be concerned.

19 Auditors' rights to documents and information: offences

(1) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he fails to comply with a requirement imposed by an auditor under section 18(4).

(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction—

(a) to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, and

(b) to an additional fine not exceeding £20 for each day on which the offence continues after he has been convicted of it.

(3) Subsection (4) applies if—

(a) a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), and

(b) expenses are incurred by an auditor in connection with proceedings for the offence.

(4) The expenses may be recovered from the convicted person or an appropriate person, to the extent that they are not recovered from any other source.

(5) An appropriate person is a person who controlled the document referred to in section 18(5) at the time the requirement was imposed.

20 Fees for audit

(1) The Auditor General for Wales must prescribe a scale or scales of fees payable for one or more financial years in respect of the audit of accounts of local government bodies in Wales under this Chapter.

(2) Before prescribing a scale of fees under subsection (1) the Auditor General for Wales must consult—

(a) any associations of local authorities in Wales which appear to the Auditor General for Wales to be concerned, and

(b) any bodies of accountants which appear to the Auditor General for Wales to be appropriate.

(3) In prescribing a scale of fees under subsection (1) for a financial year the Auditor General for Wales may take account of the expenses he expects to incur in the financial year in undertaking or promoting studies under sections 41 and 42.

(4) A local government body in Wales must, subject to subsection (5), pay to the Auditor General for Wales the fee payable in respect of the audit in accordance with the appropriate scale.

(5) If it appears to the Auditor General for Wales that the work involved in a particular audit differed substantially from that envisaged by him when prescribing the appropriate scale, the Auditor General for Wales may charge a fee which differs from that referred to in subsection (4).

(6) The fee payable in respect of an audit under this Chapter is the same whether or not the auditor is a member of the staff of the Auditor General for Wales.

21 Fees prescribed by Assembly

(1) The Assembly may, if it considers it necessary or desirable to do so, prescribe by regulations a scale or scales of fees to have effect in place of a scale or scales prescribed by the Auditor General for Wales under section 20(1).

(2) A scale of fees prescribed under subsection (1) has effect for the period specified in relation to it in the regulations.

(3) Subsection (4) applies if—

(a) a scale of fees is prescribed under subsection (1) in place of a scale prescribed by the Auditor General for Wales, and

(b) the scale prescribed by the Auditor General for Wales would otherwise be the appropriate scale for the purposes of section 20(4) and (5).

(4) The references to the appropriate scale in section 20(4) and (5) are to be read as references to the appropriate scale prescribed under subsection (1) of this section.

(5) Before making regulations under subsection (1) the Assembly must consult—

(a) the Auditor General for Wales,

(b) any associations of local authorities in Wales which appear to it to be concerned, and

(c) any bodies of accountants which appear to it to be appropriate.

Auditors' reports and recommendations

22 Immediate and other reports in public interest

(1) In auditing accounts of a body under this Chapter, an auditor must consider whether, in the public interest, he should make a report on any matter which comes to his notice in the course of the audit, in order for it to be—

(a) considered by the body, or

(b) brought to the attention of the public.

(2) If the auditor considers that, in the public interest, he should make a report such as is mentioned in subsection (1), he must consider whether the public interest requires the matter to be made the subject of an immediate report.

(3) If the auditor considers that the public interest requires the matter to be made the subject of an immediate report, he must make the report immediately.

(4) If the auditor considers that the public interest does not require the matter to be made the subject of an immediate report, he must make the report at the conclusion of the audit.

(5) In a case within subsection (3), the auditor must send the report to the body, and a copy of the report to the Auditor General for Wales, immediately after making it.

(6) In a case within subsection (4), the auditor must send the report to the body, and a copy of the report to the Auditor General for Wales, before the end of the period of 14 days starting with the day on which he concludes the audit.

23 General report

(1) This sectio