Item 2 on our agenda relates to our report on the Scottish Enterprise skillseekers training programme. At our meeting on 6 March we considered a preliminary response from the Executive. At that meeting we agreed that we would address points arising from the response when considering the Executive's more substantive response. That response deals first with the roll-out of Scottish Enterprise's corporate training programme and the benefits to be had from it, and secondly with Scottish Enterprise's commitment to improving its system of management information and to ensuring that that information is disseminated.
Our report on the skillseekers training programme was far more critical than our report on the Scottish Ambulance Service—with good reason. It is heartening that Scottish Enterprise has responded positively and addressed the deficiencies that we identified in its management information systems. We were told that Scottish Enterprise was in the process of making changes to those systems, but at the time of the Auditor General's inquiry they had not been fully implemented. It is good to see that what we were told in evidence has borne fruit. Scottish Enterprise has developed information systems that are much better than those it had previously.
There has been a solid improvement.
I raised the issue of tracking young people to ensure that training was being provided effectively and that best value was being obtained. There is no reference to that in Scottish Enterprise's report.
Both Paul Martin and Keith Raffan highlighted that issue and we should keep an eye on it. The tracking of trainees and the extent to which encouragement to complete training is given are issues that are not addressed specifically in the report.
I take the point that Paul Martin makes about the need to track the individuals who are involved in the programme. I invite the committee to let Audit Scotland monitor developments in that area. We can come back with additional information as and when it appears.
Thank you. When the annual departmental report appears we will have an opportunity to review progress. However, there has been a promising and positive move forward.