Minutes: 17 March 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private.

2. The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency:

The Committee took evidence on the section 22 report from—

Jo Green, Acting Chief Executive; Stuart McGregor, Chief Officer Finance; and David Pirie, Executive Director, Evidence and Flooding, Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Roy Brannen, Interim Director-General Net Zero; Helen Nisbet, Director, Defence, Security and Cyber Resilience; and Kevin Quinlan, Director, Environment and Forestry, Scottish Government.

3. NHS in Scotland 2021:

The Committee took evidence on the section 23 report from—

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Leigh Johnston, Senior Manager; and Derek Hoy, Audit Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.

4. NHS in Scotland 2021 (In Private):

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

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Leigh Johnston, Senior Manager; and Derek Hoy, Audit Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland.

The Committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government on issues raised during the meeting. The Committee also agreed to invite NHS Highland to give oral evidence at a future meeting in relation to the 2020/21 audit of NHS Highland.

5. The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (In Private):

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

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Morag Campsie, Senior Manager, Audit Services, Audit Scotland;

Joanne Brown, Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP.

The Committee agreed to consider its next steps at a future meeting.

6. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to write to the Scottish Government in relation to the Auditor General for Scotland's briefing on Planning for Skills.