Letter to Chair from the Auditor General for Scotland, 15 December 2021
Dear Chair
On behalf of the Audit Scotland Board, I am pleased to provide you with our 2021-22 Spring Budget Revision proposal and our 2022-23 budget proposal which are due for consideration by the SCPA at its meeting on 22 December 2021.
As you know the Covid-19 pandemic continues to place significant pressure on society, on public services and on public finances. These pressures have added to the pre-existing challenges of financial sustainability, public service provision in a time of increasing demand, economic and health inequalities and the climate emergency.
The response to the pandemic has led to significant increases in public spending and the rapid redesign of public services and how they operate. Over the same period Audit Scotland has also had to respond to these challenges. We have had to grow and change in order to do the bigger and more complex job required of us, while at the same time maintaining and safeguarding the robustness and independence of public audit in Scotland.
Our 2022-23 budget proposal continues with the investment required to meet the increase in our audit work because of Scotland's new financial powers, supports the multi-year recovery in audit timescales from 2020 and invests further in digital and strategic capacity to respond flexibly and with pace to the challenges facing the public sector.
The budget will help ensure our independent audit role meets the needs of the Scottish Parliament, its committees, and our wider stakeholders as we provide independent assurance and comment on public finances, to help inform the way ahead.
We look forward to discussing these proposals further with you.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Boyle
Auditor General for Scotland