Minutes: 22 September 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2. Scotland's Colleges 2022:

The Committee took evidence on the briefing from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Carolyn McLeod, Audit Director and Mark McCabe, Audit Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.

3. Scotland's Colleges 2022:

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

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Carolyn McLeod, Audit Director and Mark McCabe, Audit Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.

The Committee agreed to write to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on issues raised during the meeting.

4. Work programme:

The Committee considered its work programme. The Committee agreed the contents of its correspondence to the Scottish Government and HM Revenue and Customs in relation to its scrutiny of the Administration of Scottish Income Tax 2020/21 report.

The Committee agreed to close its scrutiny of the report, Planning for Skills and in doing so, write to the Minister of Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, Scottish Government and the Education, Children and Young People Committee. It also agreed to write to the Scottish Government requesting further information in relation to its scrutiny of the NHS in Scotland 2021 report.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government regarding future audit and accountability arrangements for replacement European Union funding.

The Committee agreed to write to Stuart McMillan MSP, Keith Brown MSP, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and Transport Scotland in relation to its scrutiny of the Auditor General for Scotland's report, New Vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides: Arrangements to deliver vessels 801 and 802. The Committee also agreed to visit Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited.