Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
16th Report - Whole of Government Accounts 2022-23
Public Accounts Committee
HC 367
Published 19 March 2025
Conclusions (2)
16
Conclusion
Rejected
We questioned MHCLG as to whether it has sufficient oversight over local government to foresee financial issues and intervene where appropriate. The lack of audited accounts being published leads to a lack of transparency over local authority matters during a time of worsening financial health for those same local authorities …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees that MHCLG lacks sufficient oversight of local government, stating that MHCLG uses existing modelling and financial information to understand the sector's resilience.
17
Conclusion
Rejected
The Treasury believes that it and MHCLG do know what is going on in the local authority area, and that there are other ways, beyond audited accounts, for them to check the financial health of a local authority.37 MHCLG added that, while accounts are important, they are not the only …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the premise that MHCLG lacks sufficient oversight of local government, stating that MHCLG uses modelling and other financial information to understand the sector's resilience.