Commentary on Sections Part 2 –Standards Provision of social services Section 95: Studies as to economy, efficiency etc
217.This section provides powers for the Assembly in relation to Welsh social services authorities (in the same way that section 82 does for the CSCI in relation to English authorities), that are similar to those conferred upon the Audit Commission by sections 33 and 34 of the Audit Commission Act 1998. Subsection (1) provides for the Assembly to promote or undertake studies designed to enable it to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of local authority social services (‘value for money’ studies), and for improving the management of social services. Subsection (3) provides that the Assembly must publish, or otherwise make available, its recommendations and a report resulting from these studies. Subsection (4) provides that the Assembly and the Audit Commission must co-operate with each other with respect to their similar functions.