Auditor finds no discrepancy in PBS spending on public service obligations

The Auditor General this evening presented the Speaker a report on spending by PBS under its Extended Public Service Obligation.

The report was commissioned by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

The investigation centred on expenditure figures covering the Extended Public Service Obligation (EPSO) through which Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) airs non-commercially viable programmes of a social, cultural and educational nature.

NAO said it investigated an apparent discrepancy in the 2010 figures.

"Following analysis of the (2010) pertinent data and interviews with officials responsible, it transpired that:

€1,164,687 was originally requested and approved as estimate;

€2,721,687 was a revised estimate and request based on anticipated income and expenditure, taking into account the prevailing market situation;

€1,691,940 was the amount actually utilised for EPSO purposes."

The funding mechanism utilised in the case of the EPSO  allows the operator of the funds to retain all or part of the unutilised funds as these are considered to be the result of the application of best practices.

Recommendations on how such a model is to be implemented, with particular emphasis on the need for built-in control mechanisms to ensure correct functioning of the model and the achievement of value for money for the taxpayer, also feature in the Report.

The full report may be downloaded from the NAO's website: www.nao.gov.mt, as from tomorrow.