Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Official Report 1009KB pdf

Auditor General for Scotland

The next item of business is consideration of motion S5M-21153, in the name of Bill Bowman, on appointment of the Auditor General for Scotland.

As a member of the cross-party selection panel that was established by the Presiding Officer under our standing orders, I speak to the motion in my name to invite members of Parliament to agree to nominate Stephen Boyle to Her Majesty the Queen, for appointment as the Auditor General for Scotland.

The Presiding Officer chaired the selection panel. The other members were Keith Brown, Alison Johnstone, Jenny Marra, Mike Rumbles and Shona Robison.

As members will be aware, the role of Auditor General is a very high profile and important role. The Auditor General is responsible for auditing spending of £50 billion of public money. The Auditor General reports to the Scottish Parliament, through the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee, on the financial management and performance of public bodies. The auditor also reports to other committees to discuss key findings of their reports. The Auditor General works closely with the Accounts Commission and is supported by staff from Audit Scotland.

In the year when Audit Scotland celebrates its 20th anniversary, it will have a new Auditor General. The panel’s nominee, Stephen Boyle—who is sitting in the gallery and is known to many of us who sit, or have sat, on the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee—is a qualified accountant and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. He joined Audit Scotland in 2013 as an audit director, having previously held senior roles in Glasgow Housing Association, Cube Housing Association and the Scottish Housing Regulator. The panel believes that Stephen will bring to the post professionalism, independence and integrity. I am sure that members will wish him every success in his new role.

I would also like to mention the current Auditor General, Caroline Gardner, who will demit office on 30 June this year. Caroline has achieved a significant amount during her eight-year term in office. She has successfully led and influenced Audit Scotland, which is recognised as a world-class audit organisation. I am sure that members will want to wish her, as I do, all the very best for the future.

I move,

That the Parliament nominates Stephen Boyle to Her Majesty The Queen, for appointment as the Auditor General for Scotland.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.

I am minded to accept a motion without notice to bring forward decision time to now. I invite the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans to move such a motion.

Motion moved,

That, under Rule 11.2.4 of Standing Orders, Decision Time on Tuesday 10 March be taken at 5.50 pm.—[Graeme Dey.]

Motion agreed to.