In his report "Organ retention validation review", the Auditor General outlines his recent validation exercise on organ retention by the NHS in Scotland. I refer members to the clerk's paper on the report. Members should note that the Auditor General's report suggests that resources within NHS trusts are now being used more efficiently in relation to organ retention. As the paper points out, there is little merit in the Audit Committee taking evidence on the report in the way that it would for other reports by the Auditor General. However, the committee might wish the Auditor General to confirm his findings to us. Does the Auditor General have any comments about the report?
The clerk's paper is an accurate summary of the position. However, I would be pleased to answer any questions.
Is the committee satisfied with the report?
Members might also wish to note that the Health and Community Care Committee has recently taken evidence on a petition about organ retention, and is currently awaiting the result of the Executive consultation to which it has contributed before it decides whether to take any further action on the issue. If we agree that the Audit Committee should not take evidence on the report, I suggest that we refer the report to the Health and Community Care Committee. I seek the committee's formal agreement to note the Auditor General's report "Organ retention validation review" and to refer it to the Health and Community Care Committee for its consideration. Are members agreed?
Given that that option seems the most sensible in this case, I want to express my wish that the Audit Committee should have the opportunity to consider any report by the Auditor General in the first instance and to refer any reports on to other subject committees in that manner. It is clear that the Audit Committee's scrutiny role can run parallel to a subject committee's consideration of a subject and that it will always be appropriate for the committee to consider and refer on any report by the Auditor General. It is only sensible for committees to work together and to complement each other.
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