WALES OFFICE MUST LIAISE WITH AUDITOR GENERAL ON PUBLIC FUNDS- WILLIAMS

4.50.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Oct 2008

Commenting today on his exchange with the Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy MP, in the House of Commons during Welsh Questions, Roger Williams MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, has called for the Wales Office to liaise with the Auditor General for Wales on the risk posed to the funds of Welsh public bodies by the current financial situation.

Speaking after the exchange, Mr Williams said:

"The auditor general is a key link between the Assembly Government, the Wales Office and HM Treasury

"The way that the Secretary of State said that he had met the Auditor General prior to the economic crisis he made it sound like they'd met socially, not on official business.

"You would have thought that given the current crisis, he would have demanded an urgent meeting with the man who is responsible for scrutinising public finances in Wales.

"I have called on the Secretary of State for Wales to meet with the Auditor General and hope that he will start trying to arrange such a meeting immediately.

NOTES:

A full transcript of the exchange can be found at: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmdebate/01.htm#hddr_9