UK and OTs to discuss best practice in public finance oversight
The Rock is seen near the border with Spain in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Parliamentarians and auditors from the UK and Overseas Territories will discuss good practice on oversight of public finances at a forum this week.
Key actors from the UK and the Overseas Territories (OTs) will meet to identify and develop good practice with the aim of enhancing oversight of public finance.
The Oversight of Public Finances Forum 2019 will run from March 5-7 and will be attended by parliamentarians, clerks and Heads of Internal and External Audit from Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands, the UK, and Virgin Islands (UK).
This is the second Forum bringing together these key actors to explore the issue of public financial oversight under the banner of the UK Overseas Territories Project.
ernal Audit Agency (GIAA) along with participating OTs.
The Project was launched in 2017 where OTs identified areas where support would be welcome, and activities were tailored to address those areas
These included clerk attachments from the UK devolved legislatures and Crown Dependencies to PACs in the OTs; multilateral training for External Auditors; secondments to the GIAA; and workshops for parliamentarians and officials in the OTs, Westminster, Scotland and Wales.
The Oversight of Public Finances Forum 2019 will explore progress in OTs to date, address some of the common challenges faced by PACs, Internal and External Audit agencies and explore future activities in the next phase of the project to ensure long-lasting impact.
Sir Joe Bossano and GSD MP Roy Clinton will be representing Gibraltar at the Forum.
“As a Parliamentarian I’m delighted to be participating in the Oversight of Public Finances Forum 2019 and look forward to comparing notes with other UK Overseas Territories as to how they address the challenges of Public Finance scrutiny in small Parliamentary jurisdictions,” Mr Cllinton said.
Member of the Scottish Parliament, Jackie Baillie, stated: “Providing oversight and scrutiny of public finances is a crucial function of legislatures and I look forward to the opportunity to share experiences and learning with colleagues from across the UK and Overseas Territories.”
“This Forum is also unique in that it brings together parliamentarians, internal and external auditors. This will further enhance our capacity and build a bigger picture of oversight of public finances
