Three reports submitted to the Storting by the Office of the Auditor General

On Tuesday, 22 April, the Office of the Auditor General presented three reports: about ICT in hospitals and electronic cooperation in the health service, about the help available to the disadvantaged on the housing market and about the exercising of authority for reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions.

About the investigations:

Doc. no. 3:7: ICT in hospitals and electronic cooperation in the health service. The investigation sheds light on the use of ICT as a tool for achieving better cooperation and more efficient utilisation of resources in the health service. The matters that have been investigated include the introduction of electronic patient records, the extent of electronic exchange of communications and whether there is expedient national control in this area.

Document no. 3:8: Help for the disadvantaged on the housing market. The investigation sheds light on the extent to which the central government and the municipalities ensure that the disadvantaged on the housing market (people who are dependent on help and financial support in order to obtain and hold on to a suitable home) receive sufficient help. Important issues include how effective social housing policy instruments are, how the municipalities discharge their responsibility for the practical implementation of housing policy in relation to the disadvantaged and how the State Housing Bank discharges its duties in this context.

Document no. 3:9 Reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions
The investigation addresses the authorities’ efforts to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides in order to fulfil its commitments under the Gothenburg Protocol. By signing the protocol in 1999, Norway committed itself to reducing annual emissions of nitrogen oxides to 156,000 tonnes by 2010. Among other things, the investigation examines whether the use of policy instruments in relation to the different sources has been adequate to contribute to reducing nitrogen oxide emissions.

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The reports were presented at a press conference at 13.30 on 22 April at the Office of the Auditor General’s offices at Pilestredet 42 in Oslo.

Information was also given at the press conference about the cooperation with the Russian Audit Chamber on a joint audit of nuclear waste and radiation safety. The Office of the Auditor General also presented its report on activities in 2007, Doc. no. 2 (2007-2008).

Modified: 6/2/2008 2:15 PM