Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003

82 Studies as to economy, efficiency etc

(1) The CSCI has the function of promoting or undertaking comparative or other studies designed to enable it to make recommendations—

(a) for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge by local authorities in England of their social services functions;

(b) for improving the management of such local authorities in their discharge of those functions.

(2) The CSCI may also promote or undertake studies designed to enable it to prepare reports as to the impact of—

(a) the operation of any particular statutory provisions, or

(b) any directions or guidance given by a Minister of the Crown (whether pursuant to any such provision or otherwise),

on economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge by local authorities in England of their social services functions.

(3) For the purposes of this section the CSCI may carry out an inspection of any local authority in England.

(4) The CSCI must publish—

(a) any recommendations made by it under subsection (1);

(b) the result of any studies under this section.

(5) The Secretary of State may, after consulting the CSCI, by regulations make provision as to the procedure to be followed in respect of the making of representations to the CSCI before the publication of any recommendations or the result of any studies under this section.

(6) The CSCI must, on request, provide the Comptroller and Auditor General with any material relevant to a study under this section.