Annex
ELECTED REGIONAL
ASSEMBLIES: "BROAD
PRINCIPLES" AGREED
BETWEEN ODPM AND
NAO
(a) The scope of Parliament's interest in
the elected regional assemblies would be co-extensive with that
of central government itself.
(b) Elected regional assemblies would be
accountable to their electorate, not to central government.
(c) Central government would be accountable
to Parliament for its policies and other activities in relation
to elected regional assemblies.
(d) The accountability at (c) would be exercise
through the Accounting Officer of the Government Department concerned.
To the extent that this might help understanding of the effectiveness
of the relevant Department's policies and actions, the Accounting
Officer could be accompanied by regional assembly witnesses in
a supporting role.
(e) The Comptroller and Auditor General
(C&AG) would report to Parliament on the effectiveness of
performance frameworks or other government interventions affecting
the work of the assemblies and their agencies.
(f) The C&AG would have access to the
elected assemblies to enable him to report accordingly to Parliament,
and for the purposes of his audit of Government Departments interacting
with the assemblies.
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