To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 1128W, on regional European offices, whether the Audit Commission has a role in auditing the finances of the (a) regional leaders boards and regional assemblies in England outside London and (b) regional European offices in Brussels. (319011)

This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.

Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 2 March 2010:

Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.

The Audit Commission has been appointed by 4NW (the North West Regional Assembly) to audit its accounts. The necessary consent of the Secretary of State was received under section 29 of the Audit Commission Act 1998.

We previously audited the accounts of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly up to, and including, 2008/09. Again the necessary consent was obtained.

In both instances the Commission was approached by the relevant Regional Assembly, as the financial management of the bodies was carried out by local authorities, to which the Commission is required to make an auditor appointment under the Audit Commission Act 1998.

The Commission does not audit the finances of Regional Leaders Boards or Regional European Offices in Brussels.

A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.