Public Accounts Committee Research Articles

Commentary from Westminster: Public Accounts Committee and N.H.S. Staff Totals

Commentary from Westminster: Public Accounts Committee and N.H.S. Staff Totals

Happy hunting ground for Public Accounts Committee

Happy hunting ground for Public Accounts Committee

Accounting to parliament

The Public Accounts Committee has long been Parliament's main watchdog, but there are large areas of public spending over which the Committee's writ does not run. Despite the Government's recent rejection of the Committee's proposals, there is a case for bringing them under one central umbrella.

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: The Civil Servants: An Inquiry into Britain's Ruling Class Peter Kellner and Norman Crowther‐Hunt. A Professional Union: The Evolution of the Institution of Professional Civil Servants James E. Mortimer and Valerie A. Ellis. From Humble Petition to Militant Action: A History of the Civil and Public Services Association, 1903–1978 Eric Wigharn. Environmental Planning 1939–1949. Volume III, New Towns Policy J. B. Cullingworth. Process and Structure in Higher Education Tony Becher and Maurice Kogan. The Nuclear Power Decisions: British Policies, 1953–78 Roger Williams. Decision Making for Energy Futures David Pearce, et al. Called to Account: The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons, 1965166–1977/78 Vilma Flegmann. The Irish Administrative System T. J. Barrington. Civil Servants and Public Policy: A Comparative Study of International Secretariats Robert I. McLaren.

INTERNAL AUDIT—THE POOR RELATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE*

In considering the Public Accounts Committee in relation to internal audit, it should be stated that the duties imposed on the Committee by the Public Accounts Committee Act require it to examine the accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the Commonwealth Government and each statement and report transmitted to the Parliament by the Auditor‐General. Inherent in the Committee's functions therefore is a strong association with the audit function.

The Public Accounts Committee: A Successful Select Committee?

Journal Article The Public Accounts Committee: A Successful Select Committee? Get access Vilma Flegmann Vilma Flegmann Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 33, Issue 2, 1980, Pages 166–172, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/33.2.166 Published: 01 April 1980

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE: A SUCCESSFUL SELECT COMMITTEE?

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE: A SUCCESSFUL SELECT COMMITTEE? Get access Vilma Flegmann Vilma Flegmann Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Parliamentary Affairs, Volume 33, Issue 1, 1980, Pages 166–172, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a051828 Published: 01 January 1980

India: Subimal Dutt, With Nehru in the Foreign Office. Minerva Associates, Calcutta, 1977, 326p., Rs. 45.

INDIA: SUBIMAL DUTT, With Nehru in the Foreign Office. INDIA: HIREN MUKHERJEE: Portrait of Parliament: Reflection and Recollection (1952–77). INDIA: RAJNI KOTHARI: Democratic Polity and Social Change in India: Crisis and Opportunities. Allied Publishers, New Delhi, 1976, vi, 124p., Rs. 20. INDIA: J.A. NAIK: An Alternative Polity for India. INDIA: SUHASH CHAKRAVARTY: From Khyber to Oxus: A Study in Imperial Expansion. INDIA: BUDDHADEVA BHATTACHARYYA: Satyagrahas in Bengal-1921/39. INDIA: KISHORE GANDHI : Issues and Choices in Higher Education : A Sociological Analysis. INDIA: GHANSHYAM SHAH : Protest Movements in Two Indian States : A Study of Gujarat and Bihar Movements. INDIA: AKHILESHWAR JHA : Intellectuals at the Crossroads : The Indian Situation. INDIA: S. SESHADRI: Parliamentary Control Over Finance: A Study of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. INDIA: J.R. SIWACH: The Office of the Governor: A Critical Analysis. INDIA: VADILAL LALLUBHAI MEHTA: Equality Through Trusteeship. INDIA: THOMAS PANTHAM: Political Parties and Democratic Consensus: A study of party organisations in an Indian city. INDIA: BROJENDRA NATH BANERJEE: Foreign Aid to India. INDIA: S.M. SHAH: Rural Development Planning and Reform.

The University Grants Committee on the threshold of mass higher education of mass higher education

The paper contrasted the golden era of university-state relations from 1919 to 1962 when the University Grants Committee (UGC) was regarded as an ideal neutral buffer and its informal modes of procedure were widely praised, with events of the past ten years when events emanating from both the state and the UGC have caused increasing malaise inside the university sector and have convinced some academics that the UGC has become an arm of the state. Among the state actions examined were: 1. Mr. Henry Brooke's public rejection of UGC advice concerning the 1962-67 quinquennial grants (1962); 2. the decision to transfer the UGC from the Treasury to the Department of Education and Science (1964); 3. the decision to drop the Joint Permanent Under-Secretaries in the DES, one of whom served the university sector (1965); 4. the decision to encourage academic links between universities and colleges of education, but not to change the latter's fiscal or administrative status, as recommended by the universities (1965); 5. the Woolwich speech on the binary system and the DES White Paper on the Polytechnics, with no university consultation on either (1965); 6. the Government decision to accept the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee to give the Comptroller and Auditor General access to UGC and university records (1967); 7. Mr. Crosland's announcement of the raise in overseas students fees in the universities (1966/67); 8. the activities of the Select Committee on Education and Science (1969); 9. the report on university salaries of the National Board on Prices and Incomes (1968); 10. Mrs. Shirley Williams' "13 points" for improving university productivity (1969); and 11. The DES Consultative Paper on the financing of student unions (1971). Among the UGC activities examined were: 1. the re-introduction of earmarked grants;

Symposium on project management and incentive contracting procedures

Although difficulties had been experienced for many years in preparing initial estimates for major defence development projects and in the control of subsequent expenditure, they did not become a matter of serious concern until the second half of the 1950's. Then, at a time when the Government was seeking to stabilise defence expenditure, a series of cases came to light where final costs were, or seemed likely to be, substantially higher than the estimates at which they were first approved. Some of these projects attracted the attention of the Public Accounts Committee and led to considerable public criticism.

The Universities, the Government and the Public Accounts Committee

The Universities, the Government and the Public Accounts Committee

The universities, the Government and the Public Accounts Committee

The universities, the Government and the Public Accounts Committee

The universities, the government and the Public Accounts Committee

Financial Accountability The Secretary of State has announced that the Comptroller and Auditor General is to have access to the books of the universities and of the University Grants Committee (UGC). The impact of the Public Accounts Committee on our universities is welcomed by some and feared by many. It cannot be studied as an abstraction, to be thought of in principle or in vacuo. We shall have to seek guidance from several sources which have not yet been examined in detail. We must study the constitutional position in other countries and we must understand the history and organisation of public accounting and of the department of our own Comptroller and Auditor General (C. & AG.). I have little first-hand experience of the details of procedure either at home or abroad but perhaps my conclusions will inspire comment from people better informed than myself. The idea of accountability is as old as organised government. It was highly developed in classical Athens. Demosthenes boasted that throughout his career he had been subject to public audit in all the positions he held. In his great and ancient city no public office whatsoever was exempt from audit. Our own state audit can be traced back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons, but the department was completely reformed in 1866 and it has had to struggle -hard to establish itself. For example, it was many years before it was able to impose its will on the War Office.

LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OF EXPENDITURE: THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS1

Canadian Public AdministrationVolume 2, Issue 3 p. 113-131 LEGISLATIVE CONTROL OF EXPENDITURE: THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS1 Joseph P. Harris, Joseph P. HarrisSearch for more papers by this author Joseph P. Harris, Joseph P. HarrisSearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1959 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-7121.1959.tb00659.x 1 This account of the British Public Accounts Committee is taken from a forthcoming study of Legislative Control of Administration in the United States and Great Britain, and is published with permission of the Brookings Institution. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume2, Issue3September 1959Pages 113-131 RelatedInformation

The Comptroller and Auditor‐General in India and the United Kingdom

Public AdministrationVolume 37, Issue 1 p. 41-54 The Comptroller and Auditor-General in India and the United Kingdom S. L. Shakdher, S. L. Shakdher Mr. S.L. Shakdher is Joint Secretary in the Secretariat of the Lok Sabha (the Indian House of Commons). In addition to direct experience of the Indian Public Accounts Committee he has had the advantage of talks with members of the staff of the British House of Commons and the Comptroller and Auditor-GeneralSearch for more papers by this author S. L. Shakdher, S. L. Shakdher Mr. S.L. Shakdher is Joint Secretary in the Secretariat of the Lok Sabha (the Indian House of Commons). In addition to direct experience of the Indian Public Accounts Committee he has had the advantage of talks with members of the staff of the British House of Commons and the Comptroller and Auditor-GeneralSearch for more papers by this author First published: March 1959 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1959.tb01520.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume37, Issue1March 1959Pages 41-54 RelatedInformation

Nationalised Industries and the Public Accounts Committee, 1951–52

Public AdministrationVolume 31, Issue 3 p. 255-263 Nationalised Industries and the Public Accounts Committee, 1951–52 Gweneth Gutch, Gweneth Gutch A description of the Public Accounts Committee's examination during its 1951-52 session of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the British Transport Commission and the Raw Cotton Commission.Search for more papers by this author Gweneth Gutch, Gweneth Gutch A description of the Public Accounts Committee's examination during its 1951-52 session of the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the British Transport Commission and the Raw Cotton Commission.Search for more papers by this author First published: September 1953 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1953.tb01692.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume31, Issue3September 1953Pages 255-263 RelatedInformation