IT'S YOUR 'RIGHT TO KNOW'

The legislation governing the public's rights to examine and make copies of local government accounts is profiled in the section below.

LIFTING THE LID OFF TOWN HALLS



The Local Authority Accounts
(Scotland) Regulations 1985

Section 5 provides 'any interested person' (as defined under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973) with a right to inspect the books, deeds, contracts, vouchers and receipts.

However, the regulations in Scotland provide 15 working days' for inspecting the accounts, compared with 20 days in England and Wales.

Details of public inspection periods for 2007/08 and 2006/07 were released by Audit Scotland to the 'What Do They Know' website. Click here.

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