Audit Committee, 27 Feb 2007

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Official Report 169KB pdf

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Auditor General for Scotland Reports (Responses)

Item 6 is responses to reports by the Auditor General for Scotland. There are a number of papers for the committee to consider. Members will recall that, for one or two reports by the Auditor General, we decided not to hold an inquiry or take evidence ourselves but to seek answers to certain questions.

The first response for us to deal with is from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I feel that an issue that has been left hanging is the difficulty surrounding future income and expenditure. Attempts have been made to answer the point, but I do not think that it has been fully answered. Are there any other comments?

I assume that auditors will keep an eye on the matter. The Auditor General may tell us whether auditors are already on top of the matter.

Yes, I assure you that we will keep an eye on that issue. We are aware that the SQA receives income from a number of sources. The SQA's letter to the committee refers to a projected possible income shortfall relating to the national qualifications element, but we think that the issues go wider than that. We will be keeping a watch on the matter through the audit process.

There are no further points in relation to the SQA. Do we agree to note the SQA's response?

Members indicated agreement.

The next response relates to transport in Scotland. We have received a reply from Philip Rycroft. The committee has no points or comments on the subject, and we have no questions for Audit Scotland. Do we agree to note the response?

Members indicated agreement.

We have received a letter from Dr Kevin Woods regarding "Planning ward nursing—legacy or design? a follow-up report". There are no comments on the letter. Do we agree to note the response?

Members indicated agreement.

All those responses are noted.