GOVERNMENT MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday criticised the Auditor-General for sending a limited number of copies of his report to the House of Representatives which, they claim, resulted in them having to read excerpts in the press.
Speaker of the House Violet Nielson said in the future no reports would be tabled without each MP being able to get at least one copy. She is also to inform all public officers enough copies of reports must be sent to Parliament for all MPs.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who joined in the criticism, said: "I left without the benefit of a copy. It has been widely reported in the press. Everybody has it, but us, including the Government. I, as Prime Minister, don't have it. I can't respond to any of the allegations in it. The Minister of Finance doesn't have it.
"The Cabinet can't consider it and it can't be that reports are announced here and others have it and we don't. It cannot be."
The Speaker responded :"I can only request that it should not be laid until there are enough copies for the Members. I think only four copies (were sent), so we will not lay it next time until we have enough copies for the Members."
Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw explained that yesterday morning members of his Public Accounts Committee (PAC) received copies of the report. He asked why weren't the MPs also given copies?
