The GSD has said that the Government’s answers to GBC questions regarding the Principal Auditor’s reports on the GJBS investigation “completely misses the point.”

A statement continued: “The Principal Auditor makes the case for investigations of the type conducted on this company to be carried out by the Principal Auditor as this “would have ensured that the findings from such an audit investigation would have been reported to Parliament (rather than internally to the Government) and disclosed to the public and the taxpayer, as it is public money that has not been made good use of.”” 

Damon Bossino said: “This is the fundamental point which the Government has side-stepped by giving its own account and its own conclusion and findings of the investigation which it - and not an independent body – carried out. This is simply not acceptable and flies in the face of proper accountability and transparency.

“The Principal Auditor makes the wider point that his office should be “responsible for the audit of the public company accounts” to “ensure further transparency and accountability in the use of public monies, which at present does not exist”, referring to the 44 government-owned companies and 24 companies under GDC. 

“In a strong and radical focus on openness and value for money, the GSD was committed at the last election - and would see this through in government - to tear down any unnecessary companies on the GSLP jungle of companies because they represent an affront to accountability and transparency. It is wrong that tens of  millions of pounds are spent and not properly accounted for. This is why a GSD Government will conduct a review of all these companies so that the deliberate unaccountable use of taxpayers’ money becomes a thing of the past. 

“The GSD is also very firmly committed to commissioning an Investigation and Audit of monies spent through these companies. This process will assess how public money is being spent - something which many are now clamouring for in light of the Principal Auditors’ findings. This would have to include GJBS (whose last full audited accounts at Companies House are for the year ended 31 December 2016) and if any abuse is identified these will be pursued.”