Question reference: S6W-02198
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 August 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 31 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government in light of the Audit Scotland's report, The 2019/20 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, what steps it is taking to ensure that there is greater transparency regarding financial support and public funds provided to private firms such as Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer
We remain committed to financial transparency. Transactions are reported to Audit Scotland and disclosed in the Scottish Government’s annual accounts. Ministers also keep Parliament and Committees informed at appropriate junctures. This transparency is balanced against the need for commercial confidentiality where required to protect commercial interests.
To improve our approach when providing support we have strengthened our internal commercial capacity and are making updates to the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
The Permanent Secretary wrote to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee on 19 February 2021 on how the Scottish Government is strengthening its approach to providing support and managing its on-going interests in businesses. Please find a link to the letter here .