Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004

Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004[1]
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to confer further functions on the Auditor General for Wales; to make provision about the audit of accounts of public bodies in Wales and related matters; to make provision about economy, efficiency and effectiveness in relation to public bodies and registered social landlords in Wales; and for connected purposes.
Citation2004 c. 23
Territorial extent England and Wales, except that the amendment or repeal of a provision by this act has the same extent as the provision amended or repealed.[2]
Dates
Royal assent16 September 2004
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004[1] (c. 23) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to public audit in relation to Welsh devolution.

Background

In 2002, the Welsh Government proposed that the functions of the National Audit Office in Wales and the functions of the Audit Commission in Wales be merged into a new audit body.[3] These proposals were approved by the National Assembly.[3] In 2003, the draft bill was published.[4]

Provisions

The act merges the functions of the National Audit Office in Wales and the functions of the Audit Commission in Wales into a new audit body.[5]

The Code of Audit and Inspection Practice is prepared by the Auditor General for Wales under the act.[6]

Commencement

The following commencement orders have been made for this act:

  • Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2005 (SI 2005/71)
  • Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2005 (SI 2005/558)
  • Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2005] (SI 2005/1911)

Further developments

The Wales Audit Office was established in 2005.[7]

Reception

The Welsh Local Government criticised the publication of the draft bill, because there had been no consultation.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b The citation of this act by this short title is authorised by section 75 of this act.
  2. ^ The Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004, section 74
  3. ^ a b "ASSEMBLY PROPOSALS TO RESHAPE AUDIT IN WALES". Local Government Chronicle. 20 March 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ a b "AUDIT COMMISSION IN WALES TO BE SCRAPPED". Local Government Chronicle. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "BOURN TO HEAD WALES AUDIT OFFICE". Local Government Chronicle. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "GROUNDBREAKING NEW CODE FOR THE SCRUTINY OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN WALES". Local Government Chronicle. 11 May 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ "NEW WALES AUDIT OFFICE WELCOMED". Local Government Chronicle. 29 March 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)