Introductory text

Whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament in pursuance of section 54(8) of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004^f1 (“the Act”);

Whereas section 49 of the Audit Commission Act 1998^f2 has been amended, in the Session after that in which the Act was passed, by the Freedom of Information (Removal and Relaxation of Statutory Prohibitions on Disclosure of Information) Order 2004^f3 (“the Freedom of Information Order”);

Whereas the Secretary of State thinks that the amendments to be made by this Order will have the same effect as the amendments to section 49 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 made by the Freedom of Information Order;

Whereas the Secretary of State is satisfied that this Order does not have the effect of imposing any further restriction on the disclosure of information under section 54 of the Act;