7.4 Audit committees

7.401
We will publish a good practice guide for audit committees in the public sector later in 2007.

7.402
The guide will focus on the principles for the constitution and activities of an audit committee. It will set out expectations and good practice guidance and will address the learnings identified in a number of case studies of current public sector audit committees throughout the country.

7.403
The guide will also take account of differences between different governance models – including central government departments, entities with appointed boards (for example, Crown entities), entities with elected governing bodies (for example, local authorities and district health boards), and Crown companies and state-owned enterprises – and the effect of these different governance models on the audit committee structure.