Plaid Cymru MP ‘thrilled’ to join Westminster’s influential spending watchdog
Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion, Ben Lake, will today (Monday 3 July) attend his first session as full member of the influential Public Accounts Committee.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), is the oldest and widely regarded as the most influential committee of backbench MPs currently in the House of Commons.
The recommendation for the creation of a committee to oversee government accounts was first put forward in 1857.
The structure and function of the PAC date back to reforms initiated by William Ewart Gladstone, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1860s. The first Public Accounts Committee was established in 1862 by a resolution of the House of Commons.
The Public Accounts Committee examines the value for money of Government projects, programmes and service delivery. Drawing on the work of the National Audit Office the Committee holds government officials to account for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending.
Ben Lake was confirmed as a full member of the Committee on Monday 26 June and attends his first session today.
Grateful
Mr Lake said: “I am thrilled to join the Public Accounts Committee, Parliament’s oldest committee.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s important work of examining the UK Government’s expenditure and to holding officials to account for the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending.
“I look forward to scrutinising departmental spending plans to ensure that the people of Wales receive high-quality public services from the UK Government at the best possible value. I will be attending my first Committee meeting as a full member today, and am eager to begin my contribution to its important work.”
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Shush! Sir Frank Atherton and Dr Andrew Goodhall to be questioned today at the Covid Inquiry. MD and VG tomorrow…
And it does not look good…is there a news blackout, sometimes I think if it was not for BBC Cymru we would not hear half of what goes on…
Well done Ben Lake, a prestigious appointment, with LSR and Hywel Williams three MP’s we can be proud of. We need a fourth from Ynys Mon as soon as we can, we must pick the best candidate…
Due Diligence will be front and centre in both Mr Lake’s work on the committee and the findings of the Covid inquiry…
Da iawn Ben. Having a “ Cardi “ on this influential overview body can only be good news for all of us 😇
Ben is shaping up to be a long term “best in class” M.P. On this Committee he will get the opportunity to shine a light in some dark murky corners. His findings may get ignored but he’s not afraid to dissent and pipe up. We are richer for having him there, wish we had more like him down that Bae.