On 6 January 2022, the Storting commissioned the National Audit Office to initiate special investigations into cases involving representatives of the Storting's financial arrangements. This assignment followed media reports about housing for commuters and briefings for members of parliament.
The National Audit Office looked at the schemes and periods:
- Cancellation and severance benefits : Individual representatives surveyed in 2012-2021.
- Housing for commuters : individual representatives surveyed in 2009-2021.
- Travel costs : System analysis, including sample selection, 2018-2022.
We also examined how the Presidency and the Storting administration managed the programmes.
Crisis of confidence in the Storting as an institution
The overall impression of the National Audit Office is negative with regard to Storting. The National Audit Office also finds that the Presidency of the Storting did not have sufficient control over the management of the programs and that the Storting administration administered regulations, information and control in a very deficient manner. Several representatives of the Storting were not aware of the independent liability associated with the use of financial arrangements. This led to significant errors in the administration of the programmes. The National Audit Office also notes that this has created a crisis of confidence in the Storting as an institution.
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The Storting Administration did not provide more clarity on benefits provisions
Additionally, the National Audit Office believes that several elected officials in this country have failed to comply with their reporting obligations. This resulted in excessive resignation and/or severance benefits being received. The Storting Presidency and the Storting administration have not provided further clarity regulations regarding resignation benefits and severance pay spread over time. Furthermore, the Storting administration did not check whether people who received resignation and severance benefits had other income during the benefit period and whether the benefit had been correctly reduced. The National Audit Office also notes that the Storting Presidency, due to its overall responsibility for administrative matters, failed to ensure better management of the financial arrangements under review.
Issues with Storting managing programs
In conclusion, the National Audit Office states that there are serious problems with the management of the programs by the Storting, which have led to a crisis of trust in the institution. The National Audit Office also points to many irregularities related to resignation and severance payments as well as to the management of financial arrangements.
The Storting Administration failed to provide adequate information and guidance, resulting in a lack of understanding of the rules by representatives. In addition, the incorrect storage of records by the administration prevents the protection of representatives' rights and effective follow-up checks. It is unacceptable that there was insufficient control over travel bills.
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Source: National Audit Office, Photo: Stortinget
