In addition to bringing the existing powers of its predecessor organisations together, the new Wales Audit Office has:  

• enhanced access powers to follow the “public pound” to recipients and contractors, so bringing those powers up to the standard set out by Lord Sharman’s review Holding to Account;
• a new specific power to produce public interest reports on any of the bodies that the WAO audits, including individual NHS Wales bodies;
• a new power to undertake studies for the improvement of value for money in services inthe bodies that it audits;
• the ability to undertake value for money studies of individual educational bodies at their request, or at the request of their funding bodies;
•  the ability, with the agreement of the Assembly, to undertake studies on Registered Social Landlords (housing associations).

The AGW from 1 April 2005 became the auditor of NHS bodies. Reports on those bodies are laid before the Assembly and may be taken in evidence by the Assembly’s Audit Committee.

The creation of the WAO brings opportunities for synergy in the audit and inspection of public services in Wales. It especially increases the scope for better sharing of information and good practice, particularly across sectors. Similarly, material from the audit and inspection of local bodies can be used to illustrate more fully the effects of national policies on the ground.

This ability of the WAO to have oversight of the full national and local pictures is potentially a powerful tool that it can use for the benefit of those responsible for policy formulation, delivery and scrutiny, as well as those paying for and receiving services.

The WAO should also enable more efficient audit and inspection. The comprehensive view that the WAO provides should help to ensure that audit and inspection effort is more closely targeted to where it is needed most.

By having a more complete view of risks to value for money and their operational context, it is possible to assess risks more accurately.