On 16 December 2021, the Auditor General for Scotland published the 2020/21 audit of Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts.
The report says:
"The 2020/21 financial year is the first in which the Scottish Government’s funding to support the Covid-19 pandemic response is reflected in its financial performance. The Scottish Government’s Consolidated Accounts for 2020/21 show that total net expenditure was £50,121 million. This was £10,736 million (27 per cent) more than in 2019/20 reflecting the significant additional amounts of public spending committed to responding to the Covid-19 pandemic."
Read the report on Audit Scotland's website
Information about the Public Audit Committee's consideration of the report can be found below.
The Committee took evidence from:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Michael Oliphant, Audit Director; and Helen Russell, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Services, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 20 January 2022
Read the Official Report, 20 January 2022
Read the meeting minutes, 20 January 2022
Decision: The Committee agreed to take further oral evidence from the Auditor General for Scotland at a future meeting.
The Committee took evidence from:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Michael Oliphant, Audit Director; and Helen Russell, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Services, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 27 January 2022
Read the Official Report, 27 January 2022
Read the meeting minutes, 27 January 2022
Decision: The Committee agreed to invite the Scottish Government to give oral evidence at a future meeting.
The Committee took evidence from:
John-Paul Marks, Permanent Secretary; Colin Cook, Director of Economic Development; Lesley Fraser, Director-General Corporate; Jackie McAllister, Chief Financial Officer; and Alyson Stafford, Director-General Scottish Exchequer, Scottish Government.
Followed by:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; and Michael Oliphant, Audit Director, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers. 24 February 2022
Read the Official Report, 24 February 2022
Read the meeting minutes, 24 February 2022
Decision: The Committee agreed to consider its next steps at a future meeting.
Decision: The Committee agreed at its meeting on 23 February 2023 to close its scrutiny of the 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts.