Edward Leigh & John PughTo Advise George Osbourne and The Treasury

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne, has asked Edward Leigh MP and John Pugh MP to act as advisors on improving accountability to Parliament. They will provide independent advice, support and challenge to the Treasury and the activities it is undertaking that are aimed at improving financial management across government.

Their combined knowledge and experience from time spent on the Treasury Select Committee and Public Accounts Committee will be a great asset to the Treasury as it acts to strengthen financial discipline across the public sector.

Key areas of their remit will be:

• Input to the Treasury’s newly formed Financial Management Advisory Panel, which brings external challenge to the development and implementation of a new financial management strategy for central government;
• To act as champions for modernising the public spending information that Parliament receives in order to improve transparency;
• To advise on the Government’s approach to the management of strategic financial risks in public service delivery; and
• To provide independent assurance and advice to relevant projects as they are initiated and progressed.

Mr Leigh and Mr Pugh will provide an important independent perspective on how the Treasury is progressing against its long-term financial management strategy for government.