Amendments of the Audit Commission Act 19984.

(1)

The Audit Commission Act 19984 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 5(1)(a) (general duties of auditors)5, after “National Health Service Act 2006” insert “or, in the case of a clinical commissioning group, in accordance with directions under paragraph 17(4) of Schedule 1A to that Act”.

(3)

In section 10(2) (transmission and consideration of section 8 reports)6, for “health service body) to the Secretary of State” substitute “health service body other than a clinical commissioning group) to the Secretary or State and (in the case of a clinical commissioning group) to the Secretary of State and the National Health Service Commissioning Board”.

(4)

In section 19 (health service bodies: referral to Secretary of State) after “Secretary of State” insert “and (in the case of a clinical commissioning group) to the National Health Service Commissioning Board”.

(5)

In section 33 (studies for improving economy etc in services)7—

(a)

in subsection (3)—

(i)

omit the “and” following paragraph (a),

(ii)

after paragraph (b) insert

“, and

(c)

if the body is a clinical commissioning group, any guidance given by the National Health Service Commissioning Board;”, and

(iii)

after “objectives of the Secretary of State” insert “or the National Health Service Commissioning Board”,

(b)

in subsection (6)(c), after “consult” insert “the National Health Service Commissioning Board,”, and

(c)

in subsection (8), after “Those bodies are—” insert—

“(za)

any clinical commissioning group;”.

(6)

In section 49(1)(c) (restriction on disclosure of information)8, after “Secretary of State” insert “, the National Health Service Commissioning Board”.

(7)

In section 53(1) (interpretation), in the definition of “health service body”9, after “means” insert “a clinical commissioning group or”.

(8)

In Schedule 2 (accounts subject to audit), for paragraph 1A10 substitute—

“1A Section 2 also applies to—

(a)

annual accounts of health service bodies prepared under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 15 to the National Health Service Act 2006;

(b)

annual accounts of clinical commissioning groups prepared under paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 1A to that Act; and

(c)

accounts of such groups prepared under paragraph 17(3) of that Schedule in respect of which a direction has been given under paragraph 17(5) of that Schedule.”