Committee
Audit Committee, 13 Feb 2007
13 Feb 2007 · S2 · Audit Committee
Item of business
Audit Scotland<br />(Work Programme)
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. That is very welcome indeed. The programme states:"We will also compare, where information is available, how prisoner numbers are managed in other countries."Have you mapped out the subheadings for that part of the investigation yet?
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
That would be welcome.I have a question about a report that is not in the book. Earlier, you spoke about having to undertake reports at the request of the Ex...
Mr Black:
I am very aware of the concern in Parliament and among the public about the situation at James Watt College. I will take a moment or two to remind members of...
Margaret Jamieson:
Lab
I welcome the comments on FEDD. However, my concern, which I think is shared by other committee members, is that it was perhaps not quick enough to act in re...
The Convener:
Ind
I can probably say on behalf of the committee without fear of contradiction that we would hope that the recommendations that we made with regard to Inverness...