Christopher Pincher Calls for Improvement in Scrutiny of Government Expenditure

Yesterday in the House of Commons during questions to the Leader of the House, Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher called for an improvement in parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.

Mr Pincher said, “What plans he has to improve the quality of parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.”

The Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley MP, replied, “The Government are keen to promote better financial scrutiny and would welcome discussions on how best that can be achieved.  As Leader of the House, I hope that I can work with colleagues in the Liaison Committee and across Government to ensure that the scrutiny of Government expenditure in this House promotes efficiency and value for money in all Departments.”

Christopher Pincher continued, “I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, but may I press him further and ask whether he sees a role not only for the Public Accounts Committee but for Select Committees in scrutinising Government and departmental expenditure?”

Mr Lansley responded, “I do indeed see such a role.  Select Committees have a responsibility in relation not only to the policy of the Departments that they scrutinise but to the Departments’ expenditure.  It is fair to say, however, that there is a variable focus among Select Committees on the extent to which they scrutinise the expenditure of their Departments, but I hope that we can increase the extent of that scrutiny through the Estimates process.

“Also, as a member of the Public Accounts Commission, I know from the matters that we have discussed with the National Audit Office that the NAO has already made itself available to some Select Committees to help them with that process, and I hope that we can encourage more of that in future.”