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| Audit chiefs have £10m in Iceland | Audit chiefs have £10m in Iceland |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The watchdog which monitors national and local government spending has admitted it has £10m tied up in Iceland's troubled banks. | |
| The Audit Commission seeks to ensure that £180bn of public sector spending provides "value for taxpayers". | |
| It said it deposited £5m in Landsbanki in April this year - and a further £5m in July in Iceland's Heritable Bank. | It said it deposited £5m in Landsbanki in April this year - and a further £5m in July in Iceland's Heritable Bank. |
| The commission said the deposits were in "full compliance" with their guidelines "on prudent investment". | The commission said the deposits were in "full compliance" with their guidelines "on prudent investment". |
| The admission is embarrassing for the body established to ensure greater efficiency and value for money in the delivery of public services. | The admission is embarrassing for the body established to ensure greater efficiency and value for money in the delivery of public services. |
| The Commission said that it did not expect the investments - which account for about 4% of its annual turnover - would affect its future operations or staffing. | The Commission said that it did not expect the investments - which account for about 4% of its annual turnover - would affect its future operations or staffing. |
| However, it has launched an internal review into how the deposit decision was taken and says it expects the National Audit Office, which audits its finances, to hold a separate inquiry. | However, it has launched an internal review into how the deposit decision was taken and says it expects the National Audit Office, which audits its finances, to hold a separate inquiry. |
| At the time it invested the money, the Audit Commission insisted in a statement on Thursday, the two banks in question had strong credit ratings. | At the time it invested the money, the Audit Commission insisted in a statement on Thursday, the two banks in question had strong credit ratings. |
| "Like other public bodies, the commission is obliged to maximise returns on its working reserves," it said in a statement. | "Like other public bodies, the commission is obliged to maximise returns on its working reserves," it said in a statement. |
| Questions about the position of the Icelandic banking sector were already being aired in Parliament, as well as in the City, in July. | Questions about the position of the Icelandic banking sector were already being aired in Parliament, as well as in the City, in July. |
| Local authorities across England and Wales invested £858m in Icelandic banks, money which is now at risk after the turmoil in the country's economy and the banks' nationalisation. | Local authorities across England and Wales invested £858m in Icelandic banks, money which is now at risk after the turmoil in the country's economy and the banks' nationalisation. |
| It emerged on Wednesday that three councils with money in Icelandic banks potentially face "severe" short-term financial problems. | It emerged on Wednesday that three councils with money in Icelandic banks potentially face "severe" short-term financial problems. |
| Ministers have sent a team of financial troubleshooters to the councils to assess their position and what assistance they may require. | Ministers have sent a team of financial troubleshooters to the councils to assess their position and what assistance they may require. |