"A Bill will be introduced to create a single public audit body for Wales."

A Bill consolidating audit arrangements in Wales is the third piece of Welsh-specific legislation since devolution. Requested by the Assembly in 2002, the Bill was published in draft form in April of this year. The Welsh Affairs Committee also published a report on the draft Bill in July.

The Bill will consolidate the audit arrangements for public bodies in Wales, in a similar way to recent restructuring in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The legislation would replace the Auditor General in Wales and the Audit Commission in Wales with a single body, the Wales Audit Office. This body would have responsibility for ensuring "best value" from the National Assembly itself, NHS Trusts (and other health bodies) and also local government. The Auditor General would become head of the new body.

It should be added that the National Assembly does not have the power to introduce primary legislation. However it does have the power to request certain pieces of legislation from the Wales Office.

House of Lords

First reading: November 27 2003 (HL Bill 1)

Second reading: December 9 2003

Committee stage:

• 1st day: February 23 2004
• 2nd day: February 25 2004

Bill as amended (HL Bill 31)

Report: April 1 2004

Bill as amended in the report (HL Bill 57)

Third reading: May 11 2004

House of Commons

First reading: May 12 2004 (HC Bill 108)

Second reading: June 17 2004

Committee stage:

• 1st sitting: June 29 2004 (am)
• 2nd sitting: June 29 2004 (pm)

Bill as amended in the standing committee HC Bill 129

Remaining stages: July 19 2004

House of Lords:

Consideration of Commons amendments: September 8 2004

Royal assent September 16 2004

Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004