Audit Commission Act 1998 (repealed)

4 Code of audit practice. E+W

(1) The Commission shall prepare, and keep under review, a code of audit practice prescribing the way in which auditors are to carry out their functions under this Act.

(2) A different code may be prepared with respect to the audit of the accounts of health service bodies as compared with the code applicable to the accounts of other bodies.

(3) A code prepared under this section shall embody what appears to the Commission to be the best professional practice with respect to the standards, procedures and techniques to be adopted by auditors.

(4) A code does not come into force until approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament, and its continuation in force is subject to its being so approved at intervals of not more than five years.

(5) Subsection (4) does not preclude alterations to a code being made by the Commission in the intervals between its being approved in accordance with that subsection.

(6) The Commission shall send copies of any code prepared under this section, and of any alterations made to such a code, to the Secretary of State who shall lay them before Parliament; and the Commission shall from time to time publish any such code as for the time being in force.

(7) Before preparing or altering a code applicable to any accounts, the Commission shall consult—

(a) if the accounts are or include those of health service bodies, [F1 the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and] such organisations connected with the health service as appear to the Commission to be concerned;

(b) if the accounts are or include those of other bodies, [F2 the Commission for Social Care Inspection and] such associations of local authorities as appear to the Commission to be concerned; and

(c) in any case, [F3 the National Assembly for Wales and] such bodies of accountants as appear to the Commission to be appropriate.

[F4 (8) The Commission must obtain the agreement of the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection before preparing or altering provisions of a code which—

(a) are applicable to accounts which are or include accounts of health service bodies; and

(b) concern the function under section 5(1)(e).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 4(7)(a) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 9 para. 12(2)(a); S.I. 2004/759, art. 9

F2 Words in s. 4(7)(b) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 9 para. 12(2)(b); S.I. 2004/759, art. 9

F3 Words in s. 4(7)(c) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 9 para. 12(2)(c); S.I. 2004/759, art. 9

F4 S. 4(8) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 9 para. 12(3); S.I. 2004/759, art. 9

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 4(3)-(6) extended (27.9.1999 subject to art. 3(2)(b) of S.I. 1999/2169 and otherwise 1.10.1999) by 1999 c. 27, s. 8(3); S.I. 1999/2169, art. 3(2), Sch. 2; S.I. 1999/2815, art. 2