Audit Committee, 27 Feb 2008
Meeting date: Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Official Report
274KB pdf
Audit Scotland (Work Programme)
The next item on our agenda deals with Audit Scotland's work programme.
I thought it appropriate to draw to the committee's attention my response to a request from the Scottish Government for me to carry out a review of expenditure on and the effectiveness of drug misuse services in Scotland. I would welcome any views or suggestions that the committee has on the matter.
When we have consulted on our forward work programme in the past, the suggestion has been made that Audit Scotland might well consider expenditure on drug misuse services across the board. Given the importance of the area to the Parliament and communities across Scotland, and also given my sense that Audit Scotland could make a distinctive contribution in this area, I have agreed to include the study in the work programme.
From time to time, we have commented on drug-related problems. In the most recent overview of the NHS, which the Audit Committee considered not that long ago, we highlighted the significant growth in drug-related deaths and the prevalence of drug problems among the younger age groups in deprived areas. The issue is recognised as a significant one.
We will attempt to conduct a review of expenditure on drug services. We will consider the role of partnerships in addressing drug-related problems in their areas and the contribution of the relevant public sector bodies. We will do that across the whole of the public sector—from the NHS through to local government—because we are uniquely well placed to do that.
We are consulting a wide range of stakeholders and would welcome any views or suggestions from the committee about the review, either now or at a later date. Barbara Hurst and Angela Canning are involved in scoping the review and can help you with any questions.
As no one seems to have any questions at the moment, we will note what you have said about the work programme and return to the matter when the report is published.
At this stage, we move into private session.
Meeting continued in private until 12:40.