Detailed Commentary on Sections in Part 5 Expenditure Section 135: Examinations into Welsh Ministers’ Use of Resources
489.This section gives the AGW power to carry out examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General have used their resources in discharging their functions. These are commonly known as “value for money”, or “VFM” examinations. In doing so, the AGW is not entitled to question the merits of the policy objectives being pursued by the Welsh Ministers or the Counsel General (subsection (2)).
490.Before carrying out any such examinations, the AGW must take into account the views of the Audit Committee of the Assembly as to what examinations the AGW should carry out under this provision (subsection (3)). The AGW may, but does not have to, lay a report of the results of any such examination before the Assembly (subsection (4)). The AGW does, however, have to do so where the AGW considers that it is in the public interest so to do (Schedule 8, paragraph 19).