The Auditor General for Wales has commenced a review of the Welsh Government's management of its funding of the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (AWEMA).
28/02/2012
This follows the 9 February publication by the Finance Minister of the findings of the Welsh Government and Big Lottery joint review of the effectiveness of governance and financial management within AWEMA. The Auditor General's review will be undertaken using his value-for-money study powers under section 145A of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and also Section 135 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Our report will be published and laid before the National Assembly for Wales, and will be subject to scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee.
Our review will consider whether the Welsh Government, including the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) has managed its relationship with AWEMA appropriately to protect and make good use of public funds. In undertaking this review, we will be examining the full history of the Welsh Government's relationship with AWEMA. This will include consideration of the actions that are currently being taken by the Welsh Government to ensure the protection and good use of public funds, consequent to the 9 February announcement by the Finance Minister and Leader of the House of the withdrawal of public funding for AWEMA.
We anticipate that we will be able to publish our report in May or June 2012. However, the timeframe for completion of our work is dependent on several factors, including the need for us to take into account both the scope and timing of the Charity Commission investigation and also any action to be taken by South Wales Police, which will naturally need to take precedence over our own work.