Committee
Audit Committee, 13 Feb 2007
13 Feb 2007 · S2 · Audit Committee
Item of business
Audit Scotland<br />(Work Programme)
Mr Black:
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Your first question was about whether we would respond to invitations to become involved in projects. It is true that an essential pre-requirement for my asking Audit Scotland to be involved in the Holyrood project was a formally recorded invitation from the Audit Committee that was endorsed by Scottish ministers. On that basis, the Parliament and the Executive requested us to consider the project. It was therefore entirely appropriate for us to do so.The Holyrood project exercise was extremely resource intensive for us, and other projects had to be pushed somewhat to the side. It took place in Audit Scotland's first year in existence. We were establishing a new organisation, so the period was extremely demanding. However, the significant point for the present purposes is that involvement at that level does not come without costs, so it must be carefully thought through. That said, in any circumstances in which the Parliament, particularly with the support of the Executive, wanted Audit Scotland to consider an issue such as the one outlined by Margaret Smith, we would think about it carefully.In my initial comment, I said that the issue is complex and challenging for us. A significant consideration is that when the Executive employs consultants, it is employing experts. Audit Scotland is not an expert in everything. We have certain core skills in public performance reporting, but we are not in a position to second-guess the work of consultants. At the heart of what the committee might reasonably expect the Auditor General to do from his current resources is using the on-going audit process to provide an assurance about the procedures and systems that are being put in place by the Executive to plan and implement major projects.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Ind
We will receive a briefing from the Auditor General on the Audit Scotland forward work programme and performance audits for 2007-08 in particular.
Mr Black:
The committee will recall that we consulted you last year on the forward work programme as part of a comprehensive consultation exercise that we carried out ...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I am not sure whether this is a question; perhaps the Auditor General could regard it as user feedback. I have found it interesting to follow the evolution a...
Mr Black:
Thank you for those comments. Two or three thoughts occur to me. First, it has taken a few years for Audit Scotland to develop the capacity to deliver in som...
Margaret Smith:
LD
It is probably no great surprise that I want to offer thoughts about the report on "How government works: major capital projects", which is due to be publish...
Mr Black:
The extent to which the audit resource can comment in real time on the planning of major capital projects is one of the most significant and problematic issu...
Margaret Smith:
LD
I want to pick up on a couple of things that you have said. I think that we would all agree that the Parliament building is an exceptional case, but there wa...
Mr Black:
Your first question was about whether we would respond to invitations to become involved in projects. It is true that an essential pre-requirement for my ask...
Robin Harper:
Green
I have another interest to declare: I am a member of the Howard League for Penal Reform. I notice that prisoner population is one of your projected studies. ...
Mr Black:
Not at this stage. We are still at the scoping phase for that study so we are not yet in a position to provide any information.
Robin Harper:
Green
When do you think that the study will start?
Mr Black:
Perhaps Barbara Hurst can recall what the timing is for the study.
Barbara Hurst:
We are doing quite detailed desk research on the subject at the moment, so I think that we will have a project brief within the next couple of months. We sho...
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
Obviously, the prisoner population rises and falls and that is all down to the determination of the courts. Will the study brief include sentencing by courts...
Mr Black:
It is appropriate for Audit Scotland to undertake that study because we are particularly well placed to examine the whole system. We can consider the impact ...
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
My other question is about the study on strategic procurement. My interest lies in some of the issues that have been raised with me by small and medium-sized...
Mr Black:
Margaret Jamieson has expressed concerns about that issue in the past, and it is entirely reasonable that we should undertake to do our best to consider it. ...
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
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Mr Black:
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Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
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The Convener:
Ind
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