Commentary Part 5 – Conduct of Local Audit Section 32: Accounts and audit regulations
112.With respect to relevant authorities other than health service bodies, section 32 provides a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations on matters connected with those authorities’ accounts, audit and corporate governance. The power takes account of the new statutory distinction between accounting records and statements of accounts (see section 3). It is expected that this power will be used to specify aspects of the format of the published accounts, and set out the framework for their preparation, approval and publication. Procedural aspects of the conduct of the audit, including arrangements for the exercise of the rights of the public (sections 25 to 27), are also likely to be included in the regulations. The section specifies persons who must be consulted before regulations are made.