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Showing 48 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
The second item on our agenda is further evidence on the Audit Scotland report on the Crofting Commission. I am pleased to welcome our Scottish Government witnesses, who all join us online: Roy Brannen is the interim director general for net zero, Andrew Scott is the director ...
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Mar 2022
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency”
Agenda item 2 is consideration of “The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency”. I am pleased to welcome our witnesses this morning, all of whom join us online, as does our deputy convener, Sharon Dowey. I welcome from the Scottish Environment Protection Ag...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
The principal item of business on our agenda is to take evidence from representatives of the civil service in the Scottish Government about the procurement and arrangements for the delivery of vessels 801 and 802, which have been the subject of a detailed section 23 report by ...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I begin by putting a question to Roy Brannen and Hugh Gillies, but I will take you first, Mr Brannen. You mentioned current and previous roles. You have both held the post of designated accountable officer for Transport Scotland, so can you outline what is required in that rol...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
On that note—which is where we might pick things up again in the future—I thank Mr Brannen for his time and the evidence that he has given. I also thank all the members of the team who joined him, including Mo Rooney, who contributed towards the end of the session. As I said, ...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
Okay. In his evidence, Roy Brannen made clear that he felt that the gap had been filled, but Audit Scotland’s position is that it was not filled—and that is not just a matter of record keeping or a bit of paper; it is about the whole approach and it is about transparency. Let...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I will put to you a final point, which relates to whether the First Minister was involved, whether through a special adviser or directly or indirectly. In his evidence last time, Mr Brannen was quite clear—it is a pity that he is not here today—that there was no involvement wh...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
The principal item on our agenda is consideration of the Audit Scotland report “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals: Governance and risk management arrangements for net zero targets and adaptation outcomes”—I might just use the shorter title f...
The Convener Lab Committee
21 Mar 2024
Section 22 Report: “The 2022/23 audit of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland”
The next item on our agenda is consideration of “The 2022/23 audit of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland”. We have a number of witnesses from the Scottish Government and from the Water Industry Commission with us this morning. You are very welcome. Our witnesses from ...
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
Thank you. I remind witnesses and members that, if they wish to come in at any point, they should type R in the chat function. As Mr Brannen has just told us, he is quite new to the post, so he should feel free to bring in John Kerr and Andrew Scott to answer the more detaile...
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
Thank you. We will dig a little deeper into some of those areas around governance, because it is an important concern that we have had in the light of the report that was produced. One of the things in the report that is exercising us is the relationship between the Crofting ...
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
Did you want to come back in, Mr Brannen?
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
Other committee members will probe that matter later. Mr Brannen, you said that the framework document for the commission is with the cabinet secretary for sign-off, but our understanding is that the Crofting Commission’s board has not yet agreed the document. Can you clarify...
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
I finish by reflecting on my first question, which was to ask Roy Brannen whether he accepts in full the findings as well as the recommendations of the Audit Scotland report, and I think that he said that he does. However, I want to revisit a couple of points that came up duri...
The Convener Lab Committee
16 Dec 2021
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
I thank Roy Brannen, John Kerr and Andrew Scott for giving us their time and for answering our questions on the wide range of topics that are covered in the report. I now close the public part of the meeting. 10:30 Meeting continued in private until 11:33.
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Mar 2022
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency”
I am conscious of the fact that Roy Brannen is on the panel and that the Scottish Government’s role was mentioned in that question. Do you want to come in?
The Convener Lab Committee
17 Mar 2022
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency”
As I mentioned, some of those broader themes will be picked up in the evidence session that we have planned for 31 March. That brings us to the end of our short evidence session on the report on SEPA. I once again thank Jo Green, acting chief executive of SEPA, Stuart McGrego...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I will take you back to some evidence that we heard from the Auditor General about correspondence on 8 and 9 October 2015 that took place between your predecessor as chief executive of Transport Scotland and Government ministers. An email from Transport Scotland reflected Cale...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I am sorry, Mr Brannen—I will come to the recent correspondence between the permanent secretary and the Finance and Public Administration Committee of this Parliament—but you just said that the piece of paper had been found. That is not the view of Audit Scotland, is it? Its v...
The Convener Lab Committee
26 May 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
My final question, Roy Brannen, is to ask whether it was in your gift to advise ministers to terminate the contract. If it was, did it cross your mind to do that?
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
While we are on the subject of documentary evidence, at our meeting on 26 May, there was some discussion about what Mr Brannen kept referring to as “the bit of paper”. In his evidence, he said: “with further investigation by Fran Pacitti and the records team it”— the paperwo...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
When did you find the thing that Mr Brannen referred to as “the bit of paper”?
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
Again, that seems to be rather at odds with the conclusion that was drawn by Audit Scotland that Transport Scotland had some oversight responsibility for the procurement process. Last time, we heard the mantra from Mr Brannen that it was all about buyer and builder, but this i...
The Convener Lab Committee
09 Jun 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I know that Mr Brannen is a roads and highways man—civil engineering and all that. Did he have something against ferries? If big road contracts were put through that process of scrutiny, why would a ferries contract to the value of £97 million of public money—we now know that ...
The Convener Lab Committee
08 Sep 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
Why did Roy Brannen tell this committee, on 26 May, “If it was a transport project, it would be ... a decision entirely for the minister”?—Official Report, Public Audit Committee, 26 May 2022; c 5.
The Convener Lab Committee
08 Sep 2022
Section 23 Report: “New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
I suppose that the critical point is about the language used. Mr Brannen told us that it would be a decision “entirely” for the transport minister, but the evidence appears to suggest otherwise. Do you have any final comment on that?
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Thank you very much indeed, Mr Brannen. That sets out some helpful parameters that will guide us in asking our questions. I ask the deputy convener, Sharon Dowey, to get us under way with some opening questions.
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Mr Brannen, you mentioned taxonomy, which is the classification of spending into categories of high, medium and low carbon impact and so on, is it not? Mr Raines, you mentioned the Fraser of Allander Institute. In some of its commentary, the Fraser of Allander Institute is qui...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
I hear what you are saying, Mr Brannen, but I have to reflect on what the committee was told when we took evidence from the Auditor General. With regard to the deputy director network, which seems to me to be at a lower level than this GCE board, he said: “there ought to be s...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
So, the outcome is that we then get to see none of that, is it not, Mr Brannen? 09:45
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Thank you. I will bring you back in, Willie. One thing that witnesses did not mention, but which is also quite important, is the electric vehicle charging network. You talked about “ramping up” when it comes to housing and buildings and so on, but you are selling off ChargePl...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Okay. Some of the international comparisons might be interesting. As a committee, we might have a look at what other countries do to provide EV charge points. Before I bring in Sharon Dowey, I have a question. You said at the outset, Mr Brannen, that you welcomed the Audit Sc...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
In answer to my last question, Mr Brannen, you said that you accepted in full the recommendations and findings of the Audit Scotland report. One of the starkest passages in the report is on page 16, is it not? I will quote what the Auditor General found. The report states that...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Mr Brannen, I know that you have reflected on the fact that we had an evidence session just before the summer recess on major capital projects, which covered some this ground, but how do you—as the director general of net zero and the accountable officer—account for some of th...
The Convener Lab Committee
07 Sep 2023
Section 23 Report: “How the Scottish Government is set up to deliver climate change goals”
Okay. On that note, I draw this morning’s evidence session to a close. I thank Roy Brannen, Kersti Berge and Phil Raines for their time and input—it has been very helpful for us. It may be that we would like to follow up a few things with you, which I am sure that you will be ...
The Convener Lab Committee
21 Sep 2023
“New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
It is a question of transparency and openness about how the Government dealt with this. I think that it is a legitimate question. For example, we were told by the now director general for net zero, Mr Brannen, that decisions of the “gravity and size”—that was his expression—of...
The Convener Lab Committee
21 Sep 2023
“New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802”
Okay. I know that Mr Brannen was absolutely clear about pinning responsibility on Mr Mackay. As a committee, our observation was that, at the time of the decision, there appeared to be more hands on the tiller than just Mr Mackay’s. As you say, minister, we know that it was no...
The Convener Lab Committee
21 Mar 2024
Section 22 Report: “The 2022/23 audit of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland”
Can I move on to Mr Brannen? What do we spend on the training of top civil servants in the Scottish Government in that area?
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Mar 2024
“Decarbonising heat in homes”
The second item on our agenda is further consideration of the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on decarbonising heat in homes. From the Scottish Government, I am pleased to welcome the director general net zero, Roy Brannen; Kersti Berge, director, energy and climate cha...
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Mar 2024
“Decarbonising heat in homes”
Thank you very much indeed, Mr Brannen. What I inferred from what you have just told us, but want to check for the record, is that you accept the recommendations of the Audit Scotland report. Can you confirm that?
The Convener Lab Committee
28 Mar 2024
“Decarbonising heat in homes”
Thank you very much indeed for that evidence session. It has been very useful. There might be some issues on which we need to follow up, but I think that you have furnished us with comprehensive answers to the questions that we have put to you. I thank Sue Kearns, Catherine Wi...
The Convener Lab Committee
19 Sep 2024
Section 22 Report: “The 2022/23 Audit of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland”
One of the other areas highlighted in the Audit Scotland report, which is also brought out by the Grant Thornton review, is the whole policy on reimbursing people for meals. I do not quite understand some of the terminology around non-city meals, city meals and limits. Ms Quin...
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
Agenda item 2 is further consideration of the Audit Scotland and Accounts Commission report, “Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”. I am pleased to welcome to the committee a large array of witnesses from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Environment P...
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
Thank you very much. I will begin by asking what is for us a standard question. Mr Brannen has, to some extent, addressed this already, but I want to ask each of you in turn whether you accept the findings and recommendations contained in this joint Audit Scotland and Accounts...
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
You have been around for a few years, Mr Brannen.
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
If you do not mind, Mr Brannen, I will ask the COSLA representative to give their perspective, because local government is often at the other end of things. We will get into the funding arrangements over the course of this morning, but there is quite a big onus on both local g...
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
We will return to those themes as we go through the morning. I have one other question, which I think is largely for you to answer, Mr Brannen. You have told us already that things are well under way and that, although the recommendations and timescales might be quite challen...
The Convener Lab Committee
29 Oct 2025
“Flooding in communities: Moving towards flood resilience”
Thank you very much, and thanks to the deputy convener for that final series of questions. We have run out of time, so I will draw this morning’s session to a close. Before I do, I take this opportunity to thank all of you—Anne Aitken, Diarmuid Ó Néill, director general Roy B...
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Committee

Public Audit Committee 16 December 2021

16 Dec 2021 · S6 · Public Audit Committee
Item of business
Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”
Leonard, Richard Lab Central Scotland Watch on SPTV
The second item on our agenda is further evidence on the Audit Scotland report on the Crofting Commission. I am pleased to welcome our Scottish Government witnesses, who all join us online: Roy Brannen is the interim director general for net zero, Andrew Scott is the director for agriculture and rural economy, and John Kerr is the head of the agricultural policy division. To get us under way, I invite Mr Brannen to make a short opening statement.

In the same item of business

The Convener Lab
The second item on our agenda is further evidence on the Audit Scotland report on the Crofting Commission. I am pleased to welcome our Scottish Government wi...
Roy Brannen (Scottish Government)
I am pleased to be here today, along with my colleagues, as the convener mentioned. I have recently taken on the role of DG net zero on an interim basis for ...
The Convener Lab
Thank you. I remind witnesses and members that, if they wish to come in at any point, they should type R in the chat function. As Mr Brannen has just told u...
Roy Brannen
I do. When I came into the role, I did not have the background on the Crofting Commission, the Deloitte report or the section 22 report, but now, having revi...
The Convener Lab
Thank you. We will dig a little deeper into some of those areas around governance, because it is an important concern that we have had in the light of the re...
Roy Brannen
I will bring in John Kerr and Andrew Scott, as these are historical issues that we are talking about. Having seen the report and having spoken to the indivi...
John Kerr (Scottish Government)
The points that are made in the report have definitely given us reason to reflect on the relationship at that time. The folk on my team—the sponsor team—cert...
The Convener Lab
Did you want to come back in, Mr Brannen?
Roy Brannen
I just wanted to make one more point, convener. What I found really encouraging in my discussion with the convener and the chief executive was the fact that ...
The Convener Lab
Other committee members will probe that matter later. Mr Brannen, you said that the framework document for the commission is with the cabinet secretary for ...
Roy Brannen
The board has agreed the framework document, which has now gone to the cabinet secretary for final oversight and sign-off. That happened this week.
The Convener Lab
So, there was a board meeting this week at which the framework document was signed off.
Roy Brannen
That is correct.
The Convener Lab
Thank you for clarifying that. On a number of occasions, our predecessor committee raised concerns about the adequacy of sponsorship arrangements between th...
Roy Brannen
I think that the arrangements did meet those requirements. As John Kerr has said, the lines had probably been blurred a bit, but all the key elements that ar...
The Convener Lab
Mr Kerr has indicated that he wants to contribute.
John Kerr
I just want to clarify the process for agreeing the framework document, so that you do not have a false impression. In the past few days, we have worked with...
The Convener Lab
Thank you for that helpful clarification, Mr Kerr. I realise that, in the tone of what has been said so far, there has been a sense that we are looking back...
Roy Brannen
I will bring in John Kerr and Andrew Scott, as I cannot comment on that particular circumstance. However, I will say that, as we move forward, the proper pro...
John Kerr
The circumstances were not reported in the Deloitte report as accurately as we would have liked. In fact, what the sponsor team did—correctly—was provide adv...
The Convener Lab
Thanks, John. I think there will be a return to some of those areas in further questions from the committee. I wish to move on, and I invite Craig Hoy to as...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con
Good morning, Mr Brannen, Mr Kerr and Mr Scott. At the outset, and for the record, I wonder whether you would like to give us a flavour of the Scottish Gove...
Roy Brannen
In their evidence, Bill Barron and Malcolm Mathieson made it clear that, although Covid played a part in the issue, with the secondment of Bill to the Scotti...
John Kerr
The section 22 report clearly set out the reasons that were identified by the auditor as to why the relationships were not as good as they should have been. ...
Craig Hoy Con
How did the Scottish Government respond to the vote of no confidence? What were your views at the time on the reasons why the board decided to pass that vote...
John Kerr
At the time, we responded by providing support to both Bill and the board. We also provided advice to the then cabinet secretary, Mr Ewing. We felt that the ...
Craig Hoy Con
Thank you. Mr Brannen, it would be good to get your view, from a sponsoring and oversight perspective, on the action that has now been taken through the fram...
Roy Brannen
There are a couple of different tests. As the interim DG, I have portfolio accountability across not just this sponsored body but the other sponsored bodies ...
Craig Hoy Con
Like you, I am new—I am a new member of this committee. One of my early impressions is that, when the full glare of the spotlight from the Auditor General an...
Roy Brannen
In the longer term, as portfolio accountable officer, the responsibility is for the sponsor teams that work for me, Andrew Scott, John Kerr and others to mak...