Territorial Extent and Devolution Part 2, Chapter 4: General Section 57: Provision of information to Audit Commission
124.This section requires the Auditor General to provide the Audit Commission, if it so requests, with information to enable it to make comparisons between local government bodies in Wales (as defined in sections 12 and 59(5)) and other local government bodies in respect of which the Audit Commission has functions. The duty on the Auditor General applies only when the Commission is requesting such information for the purposes of its functions under sections 33 and 34 of the ACA (to undertake or promote studies for improving economy etc in services and studies on the impact of statutory provisions, etc). The purpose of the section is to facilitate cross-border comparisons between bodies and sectors, with the aim of raising standards in both England and Wales. The equivalent duty is placed on the Audit Commission to supply information to the Auditor General by Schedule 2, amending the ACA. These duties are complementary to other duties and powers of co-operation applicable to the Auditor General and the Audit Commission elsewhere in the Act, particularly in section 43 and in other provisions of Schedule 2.
125.The Auditor General can of course supply other information to the Commission, where to do so is within his powers.