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The Auditor General for Scotland (and Accountable Officer), hereafter referred to as the AGS, explained that—
The financial risks and issues that Scotland faces are now much bigger, and the role of audit has never been more important.
The drafting of the order has taken account of previous census orders, and it also reflects changes to the National Records of Scotland’s policy development and its updated approach to the census.
The argument is really about whether organisations should—as other support services do; for example, Women’s Aid—get core funding and be accountable for how they spend it, or be given money by the people whom they treat.
It is important that MSPs are able to continue to submit questions to Government ministers and to hold Government ministers to account. Closing the office of the clerk and stopping the ability to submit written questions from Thursday 11 March restricts MSPs in their ability to do their job of representing their constituents and holding the Government to account.
It should not be difficult to identify how decisions are made, why they are made and by whom. That is accountability, and this is public money. It is not unreasonable for people to expect that level of scrutiny and transparency throughout the organisation.