Public Audit Committee
The 2021/22 audit of the Ethical Standards Commissioner in Public Life in Scotland
Background
On 31 January 2023 the Auditor General for Scotland published the 2021/22 audit of the Ethical Standards Commissioner for Public Life in Scotland.
The report says:
"Since I last reported, the Commissioner’s Office has made progress in addressing substantial weaknesses in the way it is run. It has re-established some fundamentals that every public body needs to operate effectively including an internal audit function, business plans and a risk register. Other important improvement actions are still being progressed and it is likely that the challenges that the Commissioner’s Office faces will continue into future years. Most significantly, having largely addressed previous vacancies the Commissioner’s Office is further building its staffing capacity to help it address its caseload. I have prepared this follow-up report to highlight the progress made and the challenges that remain to be addressed."
Read the report on Audit Scotland's website
Information about the Public Audit Committee's consideration of the report can be found below.
Meetings
2 March 2023
The Committee took evidence from:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Pat Kenny, Director Audit and Assurance, Deloitte; and Richard Robinson, Senior Manager, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 2 March 2023
Read the Official Report, 2 March 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 2 March 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to invite the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to give oral evidence at a future meeting.
30 March 2023
The Committee will take evidence from:
Ian Bruce, Ethical Standards Commissioner.
Followed By:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 30 March 2023
Read the Official Report, 30 March 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 30 March 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on issues raised during the meeting.
Decision: At its meeting on 7 September 2023, the Committee noted correspondence from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the 2021/22 audit of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
Decision: At its meeting on 26 October 2023, the Committee agreed to close its scrutiny of the 2021/22 audit of the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.