Public Audit Committee, 25 Feb 2009

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Official Report 189KB pdf

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Decision on Taking Business in Private

Welcome to the fourth meeting in 2009 of the Public Audit Committee. I ask members to ensure that all electronic devices are switched off. I welcome to the meeting members of Audit Scotland, the press and the public.

This will be the last meeting that Stuart McMillan attends before moving to pastures new. I thank him for his contribution to the committee and wish him good luck in his new abode.

Thank you, convener. I thank all committee members, past and present, for their assistance over the past 22 months, which have been an interesting period. There have been some funny moments—it has not all been dull. [Laughter.] It is audit, after all. I offer particular thanks to the clerking team. Sometimes the work that the clerks do—not just for this committee, but for all committees—goes unnoticed.

Finally, I thank the team from Audit Scotland. My colleague Andrew Welsh speaks highly of Audit Scotland at practically every meeting of the committee, and his comments are extremely valid. The work that Audit Scotland does for the public in this country is first class. Its reports ensure that there is now more scrutiny of where the public pound goes. The Parliament would be a duller place if we did not have Audit Scotland.

Thank you. It is good to know that there are shafts of interest to brighten up the tedium in your life from time to time. No doubt Anne McLaughlin will be expected to continue your sterling work of picking up typographical errors—someone will have to assume that responsibility.

Do members agree to take in private items 6, 7 and 8 on our agenda?

Members indicated agreement.