Freedom of Information Publication Scheme of the Auditor General for Wales
Click here for a list of classes and subclasses of information included in the Auditor General for Wales’ Freedom of Information Publication Scheme.
What is this scheme for?
This is the publication scheme of the Auditor General for Wales. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Auditor General for Wales is designated a ‘public authority’, meaning that he is covered by the Act. As the Auditor General and his staff make up the Wales Audit Office, this scheme applies to the whole Wales Audit Office. However, it does not apply to auditors appointed by the Auditor General.
Along with all other public authorities, the Auditor General for Wales is required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to produce a scheme specifying what information he publishes, how the information is made available and whether it is available free of charge or upon payment. The Act requires a publication scheme to specify the classes of information that the public authority publishes or intends to publish.
This publication scheme is therefore intended to explain what information the Auditor General for Wales actively makes available to the public, and, wherever possible, to provide an easy method of accessing that information.
How does the Auditor General for Wales decide what classes of information to include in his publication scheme?
The Auditor General for Wales considers that, as a general principle, it is appropriate to include all his reports and publications in his publication scheme. Wales Audit Office staff have reviewed, and will continue to review, requests for other information with a view to assessing whether to include further information in the scheme’s coverage.
This work includes review of the correspondence that the Auditor General for Wales receives. The Auditor General for Wales has considered, and will continue to consider, the public interest in actively making further information available, taking account of such factors as statutory limitations, professional standards and the effect on accountability.
The Auditor General for Wales intends to publish as much information as possible where this is in public interest.
What classes of information does the Auditor General for Wales make available under this publication scheme?
The information made available by Auditor General for Wales under this publication scheme is organised into the following high level classes:
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information regarding reporting on financial statements;
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information regarding value for money examinations and improvement reports (excluding local government);
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information regarding studies of local government bodies;
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the Code of Audit and Inspection Practice;
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information regarding Public Interest Disclosure Act work (whistleblowing);
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information regarding the internal administration of the Wales Audit Office.
These classes are defined by the list of subclasses (click here).
How is the information made available?
Information listed in the Auditor General for Wales’s publication scheme may be available in a number of forms:
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supplied on receipt of a letter, telephone call, fax or email to the Wales Audit Office Information Officer ( infoofficer@wao.gov.uk tel: 029 2032 0500 fax: 029 2032 0600).
This scheme and the classes of information covered by it are available in Welsh.
The Wales Audit Office will also make large print and audio tape copies of items available on request where practicable.
Who is responsible for this publication scheme?
The scheme is personally approved by the Auditor General for Wales. The Wales Audit Office Information Officer, Martin Peters, is responsible for the day to day administration of the scheme.
What charges are there for publication scheme items?
The list of classes (see below) indicates whether, within each class, there is a charge for the information or not. Information published on the Wales Audit Office website is available free of charge - ie the Wales Audit Office makes no charge, but users will have to meet any charges by their Internet Service Provider, and their personal printing costs etc.
Single hard copies of documents posted on the Wales Audit Office website are available on receipt of a letter, telephone call, fax or email to the Wales Audit Office Information Officer (infoofficer@wao.gov.uk, tel: 029 2032 0500). This is so as to make the same information available to those without internet access as is available to those with that facility. Please write to:
The Information Officer
Wales Audit Office
24 cathedral Road
Cardiff CF11 9LJ
Requests for multiple copies or for archived copies of documents that are no longer available on the Wales Audit Office website may, however, attract a charge for the cost of retrieval, photocopies, postage etc. The Wales Audit Office Information Officer will let you know whether a charge applies. Such a charge will be payable in advance.
For those requesting information that is indicated as available as a hard copy, a single copy will be available by post from the above contact address. However, requests for multiple copies may attract a charge for the cost of retrieval, photocopying, postage and packaging. Again, the Wales Audit Office Information Officer will let you know whether a charge applies, and such a charge will be payable in advance.
Who owns the Copyright of the Auditor General for Wales’ and Wales Audit Office’s information?
Unless otherwise stated:
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the Auditor General for Wales holds the copyright for information contained within the publication scheme;
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all material available through the Wales Audit Office website may be downloaded, copied or reproduced free of charge in any format or medium without requiring specific permission. This is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. Where the material is being published or issued to others, the sources and copyright status should be acknowledged.
From time to time the Auditor General for Wales’ reports and other Wales Audit Office publications may contain information which is subject to Crown copyright, such as where we have reproduced information produced directly by a Crown body.
Where this is the case, the Auditor General for Wales will have included a copyright statement and users should observe this statement and act accordingly. Crown Copyright is administered by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
For Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues, see the OPSI website www.opsi.gov.uk.
The Wales Audit Office does not accept responsibility for material hosted on any external sites.
If you are maintaining or developing a website, you do not have to ask permission to link directly to pages hosted on the Wales Audit Office website. However, you must not link to information on the Wales Audit Office website in a way that implies a relationship with, or endorsement by the Wales Audit Office, or which misrepresents the Wales Audit Office’s content as being published by anyone other than the Wales Audit Office.
How does this publication scheme affect my general right of access to information under the Freedom of Information Act?
Information covered by publication schemes, such as this, is technically exempt from the general right of access under the Freedom of Information Act. However, such information will, of course, be provided in accordance with the publication scheme.
Under the general right of access to information under the Freedom of Information Act, the Wales Audit Office will answer requests for information. This individual right of access applies to all types of information held by public authorities, regardless of the date of the information.
This means that if you want information that is not available under the publication scheme you may write to the Wales Audit Office Information Officer at the above address to request it. Subject to restrictions on disclosure and exemptions that may be applicable, anyone making a request will be informed whether the public authority holds the information, and, if so, be supplied with it—in most circumstances within 20 working days. Fees may be chargeable.
There is no obligation for a public authority to provide information if the estimated cost of doing so would exceed the “appropriate limit”. This limit is currently set in secondary legislation at £450.
Further information on how to make requests for information under the general right of access of the Freedom of Information Act is at (link to Freedom of Information: how to make a request). For more information on the Freedom of Information procedures of the Wales Audit Office click here.
How may I make a complaint about the Auditor General for Wales’ publication scheme or the handling of my requests for information?
In the first instance, complaints should be sent to the Wales Audit Office Information Officer. If you are not happy with any subsequent response, you may write to the Information Commissioner, who has responsibility for approving Publication Schemes, promoting compliance with the Act and powers of enforcement. Contact details for the Information Commissioner are:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Cambrian Buildings
Mount Stuart SquareCardiff
CF10 5 FL
e-mail: wales@ico.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 029 2044 8044
Fax: 029 2044 8045
Further guidance can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website (http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/)
How may I make comments about the Auditor General for Wales’ publication scheme?
If you have any questions or comments about the Auditor General for Wales’ publication scheme please send them to:
The Information Officer
Wales Audit Office
24 Cathedral Road
Cardiff CF11 9LJ
Click on any of the titles below to jump to the publication details for that sub class:
Class: Information regarding reporting on financial statements
Class: Information regarding value for money reports and improvement studies
Class: Published information regarding studies of local government bodies
Class: The Code of Audit and Inspection Practice
Class: Published information regarding Public Interest Disclosure Act work (whistleblowing)
Class: Internal administration
Class: Information regarding reporting on financial statements
Sub Class: Auditor General for Wales’ reports on audited accounts
Definition:The final audit opinion of the Auditor General for Wales on accounts. In most cases, where there are not specific matters of interest, this will comprise a copy of the accounts and the audit certificate. Where there are matters of specific interest, the Auditor General for Wales may produce a separate report.
Formats available: In the case of separate reports, electronic on the Wales Audit Office website
Click here for reports
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
In the case of reports embedded in accounts, individual hard copies are available free of charge from the Information Officer.
(Generally accounts are also available electronically on the National Assembly for Wales’ website www.assemblywales.org)
Cost: Free on Wales Audit Office website. Individual hard copies free on request.
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Definition: The Auditor General for Wales produces reports each year summarising matters of interest arising from across the range of his audits of accounts of public bodies.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free on Wales Audit Office website. Individual hard copies free on request.
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Definition: Reports on the NHS summarised accounts. The National Assembly for Wales is required to prepare Summarised Accounts from the individual accounts of NHS bodies, and these summarised accounts are subject to audit by the Auditor General for Wales.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free on Wales Audit Office website. Individual hard copies free on request.
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Definition: The Auditor General for Wales will sometimes produce a press notice relating to audited accounts in order to disseminate this information to the press for the purpose of wider public reporting. These press notices summarise key audit findings.
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website www.wao.gov.uk/notices/index.htm
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: A list of all the accounts that the Auditor General for Wales audits in any financial year (included in annual report)
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports. Indiviual copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Class: Information regarding value for money reports and improvement studies
Definition: Reports to the National Assembly for Wales on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the Assembly Government and other bodies (including NHS bodies, but excluding local government bodies) have used their resources (value for money reports)
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Published papers setting out the results of work at local NHS bodies.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Brief summaries of findings contained in published value for money (VFM) reports and improvement reports. These are produced principally for the dissemination of this information to the press for the purpose of wider public reporting.
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website www.wao.gov.uk/notices/index.htm
Cost: Free
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Definition: A memorandum from the Auditor General for Wales to the National Assembly for Wales’ Audit Committee setting out the examinations that are planned for commencement in any particular financial year (ending 31 March). This takes accounts of the comments made by the Audit Committee on the Auditor General’s proposed programme.
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Cost: Free
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Definition: A memorandum from the Auditor General for Wales to the National Assembly for Wales’ Audit Committee setting out the examinations that are proposed for commencement in any particular financial year (ending 31 March), and further proposals under consideration for commencement in subsequent years. It includes brief outlines of overall planning considerations and individual proposals. It is designed to facilitate consultation with the Assembly’s Audit Committee.
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Cost: Free
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Class: Published information regarding work at local government bodies
Definition: Published papers setting out the results of work at local government bodies.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Class: Auditor General's Code of Audit and Inspection Practice
Definition: Code issued by the Auditor General, under Section 16 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004, prescribing the way in which auditors are to carry out their functions.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office Website.
Click here for a copy.Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer. Cost: Free
Class: Published information regarding Public Interest Disclosure Act work (whistleblowing)
Definition: Outline of the role of the Auditor General for Wales as a person to whom external disclosures may be made under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and details of how to make a disclosure.
Formats available: Electronic on website click here.
Hard copy available on request from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Class: Internal administration
Definition: Reports on the work of the Auditor General for Wales including his annual published accounts, together with the Auditor General for Wales’ own external auditor’s report on those accounts.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: The internal regulations for the conduct of the Wales Audit Office’s own financial business.
Formats available: Individual hard copies available free of charge from:
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Auditor General for Wales’ estimate of income and expenditure of his office for each coming financial year (from 2004-05).
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Agenda and summary record of the meetings of the Management Committee, which oversees the Office’s activities and advises the Auditor General on the discharge of his statutory duties.
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website. Click here for reports.
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Details of current externally advertised vacancies, including job overview, job description and person specification
Formats available: Electronic on the Wales Audit Office website.
Individual hard copies available free of charge from the Information Officer.
Cost: Free
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Definition: Names, contact details and responsibilities of Auditor General for Wales and key Wales Audit Office staff
Formats available: Electronic on Wales Audit Office website.
Cost: Free
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