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Written question asked by Lord Maude of Horsham (Conservative) on Friday, 17 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 April 2009. It was answered by Alan Williams (Labour) on Friday, 24 April 2009 on behalf of the Public Accounts Commission.

Government Departments: Accountancy

Question
To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission with reference to paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions since May 1997 departmental accounting officers have written to the Comptroller and Auditor General following a written instruction from a Minister to take an action which the Accounting Officer considered would breach the requirements of propriety or regularity.
Answer

Paragraph 5.5 of the Ministerial Code refers to ministerial directions, which may arise in respect of Accounting Officers' concerns about propriety, regularity or value for money. The Comptroller and Auditor General has confirmed that there have been nine directions in relation to propriety and regularity notified to him since May 1997, as set out in the following table:

Department Subject of direction
1998 Northern Ireland Court Service Concerns an individual's personnel records
1998 MOD Sale of cadet property in Moffat
1998 DSS Benefits Integrity Project
1999 DSS Benefits Integrity Project
1999 DSS Benefits Integrity Project
2000 MOD Use of public funds to provide financial assistance to meet cost of air flight to Croatia for member of public to attend trial of those accused of murder of his son, a British serviceman
2001 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)
2006 MOD Armed Forces Memorial
2009 BERR Icelandic Water Trawlermen Scheme

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
491 c977W; 269928
Session
2008-09
Related items
Government Departments: Accountancy
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Government Departments: Accountancy
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Accountancy Government departments
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk