EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE DRAFT GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND ACCOUNTS ACT 2000 (AUDIT OF PUBLIC BODIES)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND ACCOUNTS ACT 2000 (AUDIT OF PUBLIC BODIES) ORDER 2005 2005 No. 1. This explanatory memorandum has been prepared by HM Treasury and is laid before Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. 2. Description 2.1 This instrument provides for the Comptroller & Auditor General to have statutory audit responsibility for four new Non-departmental Public Bodies. The bodies are: Thurrock; London Thames Gateway and West Northamptonshire Urban Development Corporations (UDCs); as well as the British Transport Police Authority. 3. Matters of special interest to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments 3.1 None. 4. Legislative background 4.1 This is the third instrument under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 (The Act) that gives the C&AG statutory audit responsibility for NDPBs. It is made in exercise of powers conferred upon HM Treasury by sections 25(6), (7) and (10), of the Act. 14.2 The first instrument in 2003 enabled the C&AG to become the statutory auditor for NDPBs that were then audited by private firms or where the C&AG was appointed by agreement. 24.3 The second instrument in 2004 provided for the C&AG to become the statutory auditor for the Hearing Aid Council and to take account of a development in respect of the Sea Fisheries Industry Authority. 4.4 Since the 2004 instrument, four new NDPBs have been established – three UDCs (Thurrock, London ...