John Bourn: Difference between revisions
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Bourn entered the UK civil service at the top-entry level. He worked in the [[Air Ministry]] before spending a year at [[HM Treasury]]. He then spent time at the [[Civil Service College]], [[Ministry of Defence]] and the [[Northern Ireland Office]], where he was for some time Deputy Under Secretary of State, the UK government's most senior civil servant in Northern Ireland.<ref name=leaves /> He was a Deputy Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence<ref name=lead /> before he became the Comptroller and Auditor General in 1988.<ref name=leaves /> |
Bourn entered the UK civil service at the top-entry level. He worked in the [[Air Ministry]] before spending a year at [[HM Treasury]]. He then spent time at the [[Civil Service College]], [[Ministry of Defence]] and the [[Northern Ireland Office]], where he was for some time Deputy Under Secretary of State, the UK government's most senior civil servant in Northern Ireland.<ref name=leaves /> He was a Deputy Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence<ref name=lead /> before he became the Comptroller and Auditor General in 1988.<ref name=leaves /> |
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As Comptroller and Auditor General, Bourn certified the accounts of all UK Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he had statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies used their resources. Under his leadership, the [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] won contracts to carry out substantial work overseas, including for the [[United Nations]], the [[European Commission]], and for a number of countries around the world. During his tenure Bourn was Chairman of the Multilateral Audit Advisory Group of the [[World Bank]], and he also was a member (and chairman) of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations. Additionally, he was a member of the Governing Boards of the International and of the European Organisations of National Audit Offices and Courts of Audit.<ref name=lead>{{cite web|title=Leadership Team|url=http://www.dgmi.co.uk/leader-ship-team/|website=Dragon Gate|accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref> |
As Comptroller and Auditor General, Bourn certified the accounts of all UK Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he had statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies used their resources. Under his leadership, the [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] won contracts to carry out substantial work overseas, including for the [[United Nations]], the [[European Commission]], and for a number of countries around the world. During his tenure Bourn was Chairman of the Multilateral Audit Advisory Group of the [[World Bank]], and he also was a member (and chairman) of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations. Additionally, he was a member of the Governing Boards of the International and of the European Organisations of National Audit Offices and Courts of Audit.<ref name=lead>{{cite web|title=Leadership Team|url=http://www.dgmi.co.uk/leader-ship-team/|website=Dragon Gate|accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref> He was also appointed as the first [[Auditor General for Wales]] until [[Jeremy Colman]] took over this role on 1 April 2005. |
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| ⚫ | In March 2006 he was appointed as the first [[Ministerial Code (United Kingdom)|Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests]] by [[Tony Blair]], to advise ministers on potential clashes between their public duties and private affairs, and to investigate any claims that the rules have been broken.<ref name="mail">{{cite news | first=Kirsty |last=Walker |title=£336,000 worth of travel expenses for civil servant paid to advise on saving money | date=11 May 2007 | publisher= | url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454244&in_page_id=1770&ICO=NEWS&ICL=TOPART | work=[[The Mail on Sunday]] | pages = | accessdate=30 October 2015 | language=}}</ref> This appointment was revoked in 2007 following the controversy around his travel expenditure.<ref name=lead /> |
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He was also the first [[Auditor General for Wales]] until [[Jeremy Colman]] took over this role on 1 April 2005.<ref name="Wales">{{cite web|url = http://www.wao.gov.uk/whoweare/theauditorgeneralforwales.asp | title = The Auditor General for Wales | publisher = [[Wales Audit Office]] | accessdate = 2009-05-31}}</ref> On 25 October 2007 his office announced that he would step down in 2008 after 20 years as [[Comptroller and Auditor General]] (C&AG) and head of the [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]] to avoid any conflicts of interest with other posts he holds. |
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On 25 October 2007 his office announced that he would step down in 2008 after 20 years as [[Comptroller and Auditor General]] (C&AG) and head of the [[National Audit Office (United Kingdom)|National Audit Office]]. |
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| ⚫ | In March 2006 he was appointed as the first [[Ministerial Code (United Kingdom)|Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests]] by [[Tony Blair]], to advise ministers on potential clashes between their public duties and private affairs, and to investigate any claims that the rules have been broken.<ref name=" |
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==Other appointments and work== |
==Other appointments and work== |
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==Academic career== |
==Academic career== |
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Bourn has been a part-time teacher at the [[London School of Economics]] since he was a graduate student, serving as a visiting professor from 1983 to 2013. He continues to teach at the School on executive and custom programmes, with particular reference to students and participants from overseas, including India, Indonesia, China and Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Spain. He specialises in issues of public sector management and policy analysis, including financial management, accountancy and audit, and covers UK and overseas experience. In May 1998 he was awarded an Honorary Degree from the [[Open University]] as Doctor of the University, having also being awarded the highest honour from the London School of Economics, an Honorary Fellow.<ref>{{cite web |title=LSE Honorary Fellows |url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/governanceAndCommittees/honoraryFellows.aspx |work=London School of Economics | accessdate = |
Bourn has been a part-time teacher at the [[London School of Economics]] since he was a graduate student, serving as a visiting professor from 1983 to 2013. He continues to teach at the School on executive and custom programmes, with particular reference to students and participants from overseas, including India, Indonesia, China and Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Spain. He specialises in issues of public sector management and policy analysis, including financial management, accountancy and audit, and covers UK and overseas experience. In May 1998 he was awarded an Honorary Degree from the [[Open University]] as Doctor of the University, having also being awarded the highest honour from the London School of Economics, an Honorary Fellow.<ref>{{cite web |title=LSE Honorary Fellows |url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/governanceAndCommittees/honoraryFellows.aspx |work=London School of Economics | accessdate = 28 October 2015}}</ref> He started his career at the London School of Economics where he took a first class honours degree in Economics and a PhD. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the [[University of Brighton]], an Honorary Doctor of Laws of [[Brunel University]], and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration of the [[University of the West of England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=UWE awards honorary degree to Sir John Bourn KCB |url=http://info.uwe.ac.uk/news/uwenews/news.aspx?id=2021 |work=UWE Bristol |date=21 July 2011 | accessdate = 30 October 2015}}</ref> |
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==Criticism== |
==Criticism== |
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He has been criticised by opposition parties and the media over his high spending, such as a recent overseas trip that ran up taxpayer costs of more than £16,000. His expenses and conducts have frequently been highlighted in the satirical magazine ''[[Private Eye]]''. In September 2008 the magazine published a special report, 'The Bourn Complicity', alleging that under his leadership numerous government expenditure failings escaped scrutiny while Bourn (frequently accompanied by his wife) went on unnecessary and extravagant foreign trips, and accepted lavish hospitality from contractors. [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]] requests show that, in the three years to March 2007, Bourn made 43 overseas visits; ''Private Eye'' claimed this was far more than the revenue generated would justify, and that in many cases more junior staff should have gone instead; on 22 of these trips, Bourn was accompanied by his wife. He claimed £336,000 in travel expenses in addition to his £164,430 salary, while staying almost exclusively in [[Star (classification)|five star]] hotels,<ref name=" |
He has been criticised by opposition parties and the media over his high spending, such as a recent overseas trip that ran up taxpayer costs of more than £16,000. His expenses and conducts have frequently been highlighted in the satirical magazine ''[[Private Eye]]''. In September 2008 the magazine published a special report, 'The Bourn Complicity', alleging that under his leadership numerous government expenditure failings escaped scrutiny while Bourn (frequently accompanied by his wife) went on unnecessary and extravagant foreign trips, and accepted lavish hospitality from contractors. [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information Act]] requests show that, in the three years to March 2007, Bourn made 43 overseas visits; ''Private Eye'' claimed this was far more than the revenue generated would justify, and that in many cases more junior staff should have gone instead; on 22 of these trips, Bourn was accompanied by his wife. He claimed £336,000 in travel expenses in addition to his £164,430 salary, while staying almost exclusively in [[Star (classification)|five star]] hotels,<ref name="mail" /> while flying exclusively [[First class travel|first class]] on long haul and [[business class]] on shorter visits.<ref>{{cite news | first= Andreas | last=Whittam Smith |author-link=Andreas Whittam Smith | title=Who guards Britain's auditing guardian? | date=14 May 2007| publisher= | url=http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/andreas_whittam_smith/article2539342.ece | work=The Independent | pages= | accessdate=30 October 2015 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070930181238/http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_m_z/andreas_whittam_smith/article2539342.ece | language= | location=London}}</ref> A spokesman for Bourn claimed that he normally stayed at hotels which were "recommended by the host organisation", but an investigation by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' suggested that on several of the most expensive trips, no such recommendations were made.<ref>{{cite news | first=Laura| last=Clout | title=Auditor General's luxury hotel bills under fire | date=2007-05-24| publisher= | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/24/nbourn24.xml | work=The Telegraph | pages= | accessdate=2007-05-27 | language= | location=London}}</ref> |
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It emerged that Bourn travelled to and from his office in [[Victoria, London]] in a [[chauffeur]] driven vehicle at the taxpayers' expense. The financial cost of this is unknown due to it being funded directly from the consolidated fund and therefore not being included within the NAO's accounts.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Chauffeur government | journal=[[Private Eye]] | date= |
It emerged that Bourn travelled to and from his office in [[Victoria, London]] in a [[chauffeur]] driven vehicle at the taxpayers' expense. The financial cost of this is unknown due to it being funded directly from the consolidated fund and therefore not being included within the NAO's accounts.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Chauffeur government | journal=[[Private Eye]] | date=20 July 2007 | first= | last= | coauthors= | volume=1189 | issue= | pages=29 | id= | url= | format= }}</ref> |
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Additionally, the personal benefit to his wife of NAO-funded travel had not been fully accounted for. When [[Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs]] investigated these as taxable benefits, Bourn was found liable for 6 years of unpaid taxes - but the outstanding sum of about £100,000 (including a fine) was settled by the NAO out of taxpayers' money.<ref>{{cite journal | title=The Bourn Complicity | journal=[[Private Eye]] | date=2008 |
Additionally, the personal benefit to his wife of NAO-funded travel had not been fully accounted for. When [[Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs]] investigated these as taxable benefits, Bourn was found liable for 6 years of unpaid taxes - but the outstanding sum of about £100,000 (including a fine) was settled by the NAO out of taxpayers' money.<ref>{{cite journal | title=The Bourn Complicity | journal=[[Private Eye]] | date=5 September 2008 | first=Richard | last=Brooks | coauthors= | volume= | issue=1218 | pages=8–page special insert | id= | url= | format= }}</ref> In October 2015, ''Private Eye'' highlighted how criticisms of Bourn's expenditure had been removed from Wikipedia, citing [[right to be forgotten]].<ref>{{cite journal | title=Bourn Yesterday | journal=[[Private Eye]] | date=30 October 2015 | first=| last=| | volume= | issue=1404 | pages=8 | id= | url= | format= }}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Revision as of 13:52, 30 October 2015
Sir John Bourn | |
|---|---|
| Comptroller and Auditor General | |
| In office 1988–2008 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Succeeded by | Tim Burr (interim) Amyas Morse |
| Auditor General for Wales | |
| In office 1999–2005 | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Colman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 21, 1934 Hornsey, London, United Kingdom |
| Spouse | Ardita Bourn |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
Sir John Bourn KCB (born 21 February 1934) is a former Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and, as such, head of the National Audit Office.
Early life and education
Bourn was born in Hornsey, London, in 1934[1] and attended Southgate School from 1945 to 1951.[2] He completed a BSc and PhD in economics at the London School of Economics.[1]
Public career
Bourn entered the UK civil service at the top-entry level. He worked in the Air Ministry before spending a year at HM Treasury. He then spent time at the Civil Service College, Ministry of Defence and the Northern Ireland Office, where he was for some time Deputy Under Secretary of State, the UK government's most senior civil servant in Northern Ireland.[1] He was a Deputy Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence[3] before he became the Comptroller and Auditor General in 1988.[1]
As Comptroller and Auditor General, Bourn certified the accounts of all UK Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he had statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies used their resources. Under his leadership, the National Audit Office won contracts to carry out substantial work overseas, including for the United Nations, the European Commission, and for a number of countries around the world. During his tenure Bourn was Chairman of the Multilateral Audit Advisory Group of the World Bank, and he also was a member (and chairman) of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations. Additionally, he was a member of the Governing Boards of the International and of the European Organisations of National Audit Offices and Courts of Audit.[3] He was also appointed as the first Auditor General for Wales until Jeremy Colman took over this role on 1 April 2005.
In March 2006 he was appointed as the first Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests by Tony Blair, to advise ministers on potential clashes between their public duties and private affairs, and to investigate any claims that the rules have been broken.[4] This appointment was revoked in 2007 following the controversy around his travel expenditure.[3]
On 25 October 2007 his office announced that he would step down in 2008 after 20 years as Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and head of the National Audit Office.
Other appointments and work
Bourn served as a Board Member of the Financial Reporting Council and as Chair of the Professional Oversight Board of the Council and its predecessor body, the Review Board of the Accountancy Foundation 2000-2008. The council’s responsibilities include the oversight of public and private sector financial service providers, including accountants, auditors and actuaries. The tasks of the Financial Reporting Council are to set standards for corporate governance, reporting, auditing and actuarial practice; monitor and, where appropriate, enforce the application of those standards; and work with the accountancy and actuarial professions to promote the professionalism of their members. The Council and its Boards are engaged in international discussions with financial services regulators in the US, France, Germany, the European Commission and other countries.[citation needed]
Bourn is currently Senior Advisor to the Foundation for Governance Research and Education, where he specialises in corporate governance arrangements and improvements in the public and private sectors, particularly in banks. Among other non-executive appointments he is also a Companion of the Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
Academic career
Bourn has been a part-time teacher at the London School of Economics since he was a graduate student, serving as a visiting professor from 1983 to 2013. He continues to teach at the School on executive and custom programmes, with particular reference to students and participants from overseas, including India, Indonesia, China and Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Spain. He specialises in issues of public sector management and policy analysis, including financial management, accountancy and audit, and covers UK and overseas experience. In May 1998 he was awarded an Honorary Degree from the Open University as Doctor of the University, having also being awarded the highest honour from the London School of Economics, an Honorary Fellow.[5] He started his career at the London School of Economics where he took a first class honours degree in Economics and a PhD. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the University of Brighton, an Honorary Doctor of Laws of Brunel University, and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration of the University of the West of England.[6]
Criticism
He has been criticised by opposition parties and the media over his high spending, such as a recent overseas trip that ran up taxpayer costs of more than £16,000. His expenses and conducts have frequently been highlighted in the satirical magazine Private Eye. In September 2008 the magazine published a special report, 'The Bourn Complicity', alleging that under his leadership numerous government expenditure failings escaped scrutiny while Bourn (frequently accompanied by his wife) went on unnecessary and extravagant foreign trips, and accepted lavish hospitality from contractors. Freedom of Information Act requests show that, in the three years to March 2007, Bourn made 43 overseas visits; Private Eye claimed this was far more than the revenue generated would justify, and that in many cases more junior staff should have gone instead; on 22 of these trips, Bourn was accompanied by his wife. He claimed £336,000 in travel expenses in addition to his £164,430 salary, while staying almost exclusively in five star hotels,[4] while flying exclusively first class on long haul and business class on shorter visits.[7] A spokesman for Bourn claimed that he normally stayed at hotels which were "recommended by the host organisation", but an investigation by The Daily Telegraph suggested that on several of the most expensive trips, no such recommendations were made.[8]
It emerged that Bourn travelled to and from his office in Victoria, London in a chauffeur driven vehicle at the taxpayers' expense. The financial cost of this is unknown due to it being funded directly from the consolidated fund and therefore not being included within the NAO's accounts.[9] Additionally, the personal benefit to his wife of NAO-funded travel had not been fully accounted for. When Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs investigated these as taxable benefits, Bourn was found liable for 6 years of unpaid taxes - but the outstanding sum of about £100,000 (including a fine) was settled by the NAO out of taxpayers' money.[10] In October 2015, Private Eye highlighted how criticisms of Bourn's expenditure had been removed from Wikipedia, citing right to be forgotten.[11]
Personal life
Bourn is married to Ardita and they have a son and a daughter. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2009. Bourn enjoys swimming and playing tennis.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Sir John Bourn leaves NAO after 20 years". The Daily Telegraph. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Notable former pupils". Southgate County School. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ a b c "Leadership Team". Dragon Gate. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ a b Walker, Kirsty (11 May 2007). "£336,000 worth of travel expenses for civil servant paid to advise on saving money". The Mail on Sunday. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "LSE Honorary Fellows". London School of Economics. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ "UWE awards honorary degree to Sir John Bourn KCB". UWE Bristol. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ Whittam Smith, Andreas (14 May 2007). "Who guards Britain's auditing guardian?". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ Clout, Laura (2007-05-24). "Auditor General's luxury hotel bills under fire". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "Chauffeur government". Private Eye. 1189: 29. 20 July 2007.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Brooks, Richard (5 September 2008). "The Bourn Complicity". Private Eye (1218): 8–page special insert.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Bourn Yesterday". Private Eye (1404): 8. 30 October 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)