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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Jonathan Bunn

MPs warn public sector accounts were undermined by local audit backlog

Unreliable data in government accounts has resulted in income and debt being overstated by tens of billions of pounds while undermining transparency and financial oversight, it has emerged.

A report on the whole of government accounts (WGA) 2022-23 warns that gaps in detail and delayed independent financial assessments mean the Government cannot effectively monitor the health of councils’ balance sheets at a time of repeated warnings that more may be forced to declare effective bankruptcy.

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