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