After section 145A of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c. 38) (inserted by section 3) insert—
(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.
| Subject of study | Requesting body |
|---|---|
| The governing body of an institution in Wales within the higher education sector. | The governing body or the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. |
| The governing body of an institution in Wales receiving financial support under Part 1 of the Education Act 1994. | The governing body or the appropriate funding agency. |
| The governing body of an institution in Wales within the further education sector. | The governing body or the National Council for Education and Training for Wales. |
(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.”