History and role:
The Committee of Public
Accounts is an influential Select Committee that acts as
Parliament's public spending watchdog. Members of the
Committee look at all areas of government spending and
ensure tax-payers are getting value for money. Where
necessary, recommendations and suggestions for
improvement are made.
A Committee of Public
Accounts was first appointed in 1861 and in the
following year the appointment was made permanent by a
Standing Order, which states that the Committee is
appointed “for the examination of the accounts showing
the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to
meet the public expenditure, and [since 1934] of such
other accounts laid before Parliament as the Committee
may think fit”.
