Hansard

The Convener: Ind

Under item 3, the committee will consider a response from the Scottish Executive on the committee's seventh report of 2006, on the Auditor General for Scotla...

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): LD

In our legacy paper, we should perhaps recommend the introduction of an Audit Committee award for complete gobbledegook that does not mean much to any ordina...

The Convener: Ind

That is exactly why I drew that sentence to members' attention. Indeed, it might be a worthy candidate for such an award—we could consider that under agenda ...

Mr Welsh: SNP

I note that the paper is headed "Draft Scottish Executive Response". Is there any particular reason for that? Is it work in progress?Referring to the second ...

The Convener: Ind

Obviously, I cannot answer the question.

Mr Welsh: SNP

I am underlining the point that the response was inadequate, as you said. We asked the department for "clear outcome measures". We were told that it looks to...

The Convener: Ind

Do you have any further points?

Mr Welsh: SNP

If you do not mind.

The Convener: Ind

No—carry on. We are all enjoying this.

Mr Welsh: SNP

We asked"whether improvements in classroom practice claimed as a result of implementing the agreement … are actually being delivered, and … whether value-for...

The Convener: Ind

To be fair, the point was on a recommendation that we made to the Auditor General for Scotland and not the department. That is why the department's response ...

Mr Welsh: SNP

I would have thought that the department would have a pretty good idea whether it is delivering value for money. After all, it takes the action, whereas Audi...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab

There is a problem with the Executive response. To be fair, the problem derives not from the response but from our report. Indeed, the problem can be said to...

Robin Harper: Green

At this point, I should declare as an interest my continued membership of the Educational Institute of Scotland.The problem with the idea of assessing value ...

The Convener: Ind

Thank you. After we have heard from Andrew Welsh and Margaret Smith, I will invite the Auditor General to comment.

Mr Welsh: SNP

Our report contained some fundamental points. Although we said that further actions"might be needed to meet the objectives of the agreement",we made some hig...

The Convener: Ind

You make a fair point, but I could play devil's advocate and say that it is necessary to take into account the context. Our report was to be followed by a re...

Mr Welsh: SNP

I fully concede that the context is important, but the problem is that time is passing by. We made some specific, straightforward comments, but I am dissatis...

The Convener: Ind

In this case, impatience is a virtue.

Margaret Jamieson: Lab

Andrew Welsh forgets that the agreement exists between the employers, the Scottish Executive and the trade unions. Even though we are held in high esteem, no...

Mr Welsh: SNP

I note that the Executive states:"We are writing this week to interested stakeholders".I give it due credit for that.

Margaret Jamieson: Lab

It is the end bit that I am interested in.

Mr Welsh: SNP

Exactly.

The Convener: Ind

Auditor General, I would welcome your—or your team's—comments.

Mr Black:

I have one or two thoughts that might help to inform the committee. There are two points about the general context. First, as I am sure the committee knows, ...

Antony Clark (Audit Scotland):

I echo Bob Black's overall statement that the department's response is broadly positive, but the committee may want to ask the department for further informa...

Susan Deacon: Lab

I will pick up on several strands of what has been said. I suspect that I am in legacy mode again. I was struck by Andrew Welsh's concern that a review was b...

The Convener: Ind

Following the briefing from the Auditor General and Antony Clark, and comments from Andrew Welsh, Margaret Smith and Susan Deacon, I suggest that I write to ...

The Convener: Ind

As there are no other points that members want me to pick up on, we will focus on the timetable. I thank members for their comments, which the department wil...