Minutes: 20 January 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4 and 5 in private.

2. The 2020/21 audit of National Records of Scotland:

The Committee took evidence on the section 22 report from—

Paul Lowe, Registrar General for Scotland and Keeper of the Records of Scotland, Linda Sinclair, Director of Corporate Services and Accountable Officer, Peter Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services and Anne Slater, Director of Operations and Customer Services, National Records of Scotland.

3. The 2020/21 audit of Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts:

The Committee took evidence on the section 22 report from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Michael Oliphant, Audit Director and Helen Russell, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Services, Audit Scotland.

4. The 2020/21 audit of Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 3 and took further evidence from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Michael Oliphant, Audit Director and Helen Russell, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Services, Audit Scotland.

The Committee agreed to take further oral evidence from the Auditor General for Scotland at a future meeting.

5. The 2020/21 audit of National Records of Scotland (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at agenda item 2 and took further evidence from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Graeme Samson, Senior Auditor, Audit Services and Dharshi Santhakumaran, Correspondence Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.

The Committee agreed to write to the National Records of Scotland on issues raised during the meeting.