F1Part 3AData matching

64FFees for data matching

F2A1

The Wales Audit Office may, in accordance with a scheme for charging fees prepared under section 24 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013, charge a fee in respect of a data matching exercise undertaken by the Auditor General for Wales.

(1)

The F3Wales Audit Office must prescribe a scale or scales of fees in respect of data matching exercises.

(2)

A body required under section 64B(1) to provide data for a data matching exercise must pay to F4the Wales Audit Office the fee applicable to that exercise in accordance with the appropriate scale.

(3)

But if it appears to the F5Wales Audit Office that the work involved in the exercise was substantially more or less than that envisaged by the appropriate scale, the F5Wales Audit Office may charge the body a fee which is larger or smaller than that referred to in subsection (2).

(4)

Before prescribing a scale of fees under this section, the F6Wales Audit Office must consult—

(a)

the bodies mentioned in section 64B(2), and

(b)

such other bodies or persons as the F6Wales Audit Office thinks fit.

(5)

If the Welsh Ministers consider it necessary or desirable to do so, they may by regulations prescribe a scale or scales of fees to have effect, for such period as is specified in the regulations, in place of any scale or scales of fees prescribed by the F7Wales Audit Office and, if they do so, references in this section to the appropriate scale are to be read as respects that period as references to the appropriate scale prescribed by the Welsh Ministers.

(6)

Before making any regulations under subsection (5), the Welsh Ministers must consult—

(a)

the F8Wales Audit Office, and

(b)

such other bodies or persons as they think fit.

(7)

The power under subsection (5) is exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of F9the National Assembly for Wales.

(8)

In addition to the power under subsection (2), the F10Wales Audit Office may charge a fee to any other body or person providing data for or receiving the results of a data matching exercise, such fee to be payable in accordance with terms agreed between the F10Wales Audit Office and that body or person.

F11(9)

Any terms as to payment agreed by the Wales Audit Office under subsection (8) must be in accordance with a scheme for charging fees prepared under section 24 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2013.

(10)

A fee charged under this section may not exceed the full cost of exercising the function to which it relates.