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Public Accounts

I beg to move,"That this House takes note of the 9th, the 11th, the 13th to the 40th and the 43rd to the 45th Reports, and of the First Special Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2006-07, and of the Treasury Minutes thereon (Cm 7076, 7077, 7151, 7152, 7216)." Christmas may come only once a year, but other good things come more often, and this is the second debate this year covering the work of the Committee that I am privileged to chair. I am sure that Members will think that a just reflection of the prolific output of the Committee, and of the importance of its work. Our motto was spelt out some 150 years ago when the House was built and the Committee was brought into being. Above the door of Room 6A, which I have the privilege to use as Chairman of the Committee, is one word, ““Assiduity””. That is a watchword for all members of the Committee. We are, we hope, assiduous in holding the Executive to account, and in pursuing savings and improvements in public services. That role is perhaps not taken as seriously as it should be, but it is vital to the work of the House. It is therefore important to have two occasions every year when we can put the spotlight on efficiency savings. The Prime Minister says that his route map for the governance of Britain includes helping this place to hold those in power more accountable. I contend that that is what the Committee tries to do week in, week out. It can be testing, I know, for permanent secretaries to appear before the Committee, and we make no apology for that. In our last debate, I challenged those most senior of civil servants who appear before us to show without question that they understand the seriousness of their responsibilities to the Committee. I was thinking particularly of the way in which notes are often promised but their production is often subject to severe delay. Various commitments have been given, which I welcome. It is too early, however, to pass judgment on what will happen and whether the commitments will be carried out. I remind those on the Treasury Bench, however, of those commitments on behalf of permanent secretaries. I and my fellow members of the Committee remain on the watch. As we have seen in the past two or three years, it is absolutely vital that notes that are promised are delivered on time.