I would like to introduce the briefing paper that you have before you. As you know, public audit plays an important role in supporting Government’s accountability to Parliament and the public, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to brief the committee on my future work programme.
Public services face unprecedented challenges in terms of financial pressures, changing public expectations and demographic change. Public bodies also have to work in new ways to deliver more preventative services that address inequalities and improve long-term outcomes. That means increasingly difficult choices at a time of tight public finances. At the same time, Scotland’s new financial powers are transforming the funding of public services. That will continue to be a major element of my work programme and I welcome the committee’s interest in ensuring that Parliament is able to scrutinise the new powers effectively.
My work programme also includes audits that focus on policies such as health and social care integration, community empowerment, and the expansion of early learning and childcare. My annual overview reports on the national health service and colleges will provide the committee with evidence of how well those sectors are responding to the challenges that they face.
The briefing paper sets out the public sector risks that have informed the performance audit programme. I will keep those under review, given the rapidly changing environment in which we are all working. For example, I anticipate a suite of work on the impact of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, but the specific contents of that are still developing.
When I select areas to audit, I aim to focus on matters of real interest to the public and Parliament. The amount of money that is involved is obviously one key consideration, as reflected in the audits of Scotland’s new financial powers and things such as the Forth replacement crossing, but I also consider a range of other factors, such as the implementation of major policies. The Government’s commitment to improving educational attainment and addressing child poverty are both examples of work on policy implementation in relation to which I hope that audit can support the committee in its post-legislative scrutiny role.
I also consider services that fall under the radar, perhaps because they do not affect large numbers of people or because the issues are seen as too complex to address easily. Examples include the proposed joint work with the Accounts Commission on improving outcomes for looked-after children, and potential audit work on climate change. In addition, I have tried to reflect the committee’s interest in exploring some of the cross-cutting challenges that face the public sector. The work on digital and on workforce planning falls into that category, as does the proposed audit on housing in Scotland. I am keen to ensure that, wherever possible, the work reflects the needs and concerns of the people who rely on important public services, such as the recent audit of self-directed support, this year’s audit of children’s mental health services and the continuing work on the expansion of early learning and childcare.
The briefing paper sets out my proposed five-year rolling work programme. Appendix 1 provides information on the likely scope of the 17 performance audits planned for 2018-19 and 2019-20, and appendix 2 sets out the likely areas of focus for the later years of the programme. The independence of my role means that I am not constrained in selecting areas to audit or reporting my findings but it is obviously important that my work adds value, and I am keen to take into account proposals that are made by Parliament. I want to continue to engage with you and other committees so that I can ensure that my work addresses your interests and concerns. I know that you have a continuing interest in topics such as governance, accountability and public sector leadership, and those will continue to feature in my performance audit programme and section 22 reports.
The briefing paper highlights how I have responded to the useful feedback that you gathered from the subject committees. In most areas, the subjects that they suggested are reflected in the work programme and there are only a few areas, such as climate change, where I need to consider further how best to reflect the Parliament’s interests in my work.
I am keen to get your feedback this morning on the overall work programme, and Antony Clark and I are happy to answer any questions that you have.