Guernsey State Spending Regulator To Be Replaced With New Body

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

03 May 2004

In an announcement last Wednesday, the Guernsey government revealed that the six-year-old States Audit Commission will soon be disbanded and replaced with a new body responsible for monitoring state spending, to be known as the Public Accounts Committee.

Chairman of the Audit Commission, John Lee commented: “The Public Accounts Committee is one of the major new aspects of the restructured Machinery of Government and, to that extent, it is an unknown entity to the general public. However, the Commission is confident that this is a major step forward for the States of Guernsey.”

He went on to add that: “If the PAC can maintain its independence, it should be a truly positive driving force in making sure that the States is accountable to the taxpayers for the way it looks after their funds and resources.”

“The Commission has seen much change in the States in the past six years, much of it for the good, and we have been pleased to be involved in that process,” reflected Mr Lee, continuing:

“We are confident that the Commission’s work has resulted in better value for money for the Guernsey taxpayer. States internal controls, working methods, policies and procedures and level of financial skills and knowledge have all improved – all with a resulting benefit to the taxpayer and the funds utilised by the States of Guernsey.”

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