On 7 January 2019, the Government announced Mr Gareth Davies as the preferred candidate to take over as Comptroller and Auditor in General (C&AG) once the current incumbent’s term ends on 31 May this year.
The C&AG is the head of the National Audit Office (NAO) and, with the support of NAO staff, certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other public bodies. The C&AG also has statutory authority to examine and report to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively and with economy. The Public Accounts Committee works closely with the C&AG and NAO.
The Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing with Mr Davies to explore his suitability for the role, his key priorities for the NAO and the process used in selection.
The hearing will be Wednesday 16 January and the Committee anticipates reporting its verdict on Mr Davies’ proposed appointment shortly thereafter.