To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment he has made of the steps taken by the National Audit Office to increase public awareness of its work. [65558]
The Commission attaches considerable importance to public awareness of the work of the National Audit Office and this is essential to the public accountability process.The National Audit Office has a constructive relationship with the media. Copies of reports are circulated widely along with a short press notice giving details of the key points.The National Audit Office also publishes an annual report. This is available to journalists, audited bodies, academics, interest groups, professional bodies and the public and can also be found on the Office's web site. The National Audit Office's most recent annual report,
Helping the Nation Spend Wisely, was published in July 1998 and describes its work and how it has saved the taxpayer more than a billion pounds over the last three years.
In addition the Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office are always willing to speak, and write, about their work when invited to do so.