Committee
Public Audit Committee 09 March 2016
09 Mar 2016 · S4 · Public Audit Committee
Item of business
Annual Report
I agree with the comments that have been made so far. What struck me about the committee during this session is the collegiate fashion in which members undertook their duties. I have been fortunate to be on committees in which that has regularly been the case, but it has not been so for the entirety of the time. The members of this committee have tried to work together as a team, and they all deserve credit for that. It shows that, when the politicians from the various parties are able to come together, they can get a good job done—and we have certainly done that. My final point is about a former member of this Parliament and this committee—Andrew Welsh. I joined the Public Audit Committee at the very beginning of the previous session in 2007, and Andrew told me that the Audit Committee was a fabulous committee. He said that Audit Scotland provides you with the bullets and it is up to you to fire the gun. He told me that on a regular basis. Audit Scotland certainly provides invaluable information and a huge amount of assistance. In this session, I think that the members of this committee have undertaken their duties with that information to hand. Thank you very much to Audit Scotland. That wee anecdote about Andrew Welsh will always stick with me.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
Item 6 is the committee’s annual report. In line with previous years, this is simply a factual report on the committee’s work for the past year. Are members ...
Stuart McMillan
SNP
I do not know whether it is relevant to highlight this, but paragraph 25—the draft report’s final paragraph—says that the committee met 21 times and all the ...
The Convener
Lab
We had a tour around NHS Highland.
Stuart McMillan
SNP
Oh, sorry—so we did.
The Convener
Lab
You were there.
Stuart McMillan
SNP
No, I was not at that one.
The Convener
Lab
Sorry.
Stuart McMillan
SNP
Nonetheless, I stand corrected. Given other committees’ external activities, it is clear that they have been out of the Parliament a lot more. I mention the ...
The Convener
Lab
A fair point has been raised. The Public Audit Committee’s work is of public interest, so hopefully the future committee will keep the issue in mind. I poin...
Mary Scanlon
Con
Hear, hear.
The Convener
Lab
All the parliamentary committees should operate in that way—they should ensure that we can work together on the common agenda. Does any member have a brief ...
Mary Scanlon
Con
When I came here in 1999, David McLetchie was my leader. He offered me the Health and Community Care Committee. I said, “I don’t know much about it. I go to ...
Colin Beattie
SNP
I would like to join in the convener’s sentiments by thanking the Auditor General and her team; the clerks; the members around the table; the convener; Mary ...
Dr Simpson
Lab
As a latecomer, I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief time on the committee. The role of Audit Scotland has been phenomenally important in every committee that ...
Colin Keir
SNP
I thank the convener for his comments. I totally agree with the comments about the Auditor General and the support staff as well as, of course, those about m...
Stuart McMillan
SNP
I agree with the comments that have been made so far. What struck me about the committee during this session is the collegiate fashion in which members under...
The Convener
Lab
Okay colleagues, before there is any disagreement, I will move the committee into private session. I note that we have received apologies from Tavish Scott. ...