The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 2151 contributions
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
Based on what you have said, it would appear that there will be regions of Scotland that will need additional public support, perhaps from the UK Government rather than from the Scottish Government, to get the private sector into action.
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
I have a couple of questions on connectivity. Can the cabinet secretary provide an update on the test 5G networks that were established on Orkney and at Loch Lomond?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
And on the model that is likely to be used?
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
Cabinet secretary, what are your expectations for the commercial roll-out of 5G networks across Scotland? Are there areas of the country where additional public support or subsidy will be necessary to encourage the private sector to act?
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
So it is not actually a final figure.
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
To what extent did you look at the 25 per cent additional costs of Audit Scotland’s remote audits and the impact of that?
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
I welcome David Jeffcoat, who is a partner at Alexander Sloan.
There are just a couple of formal questions to ask. For completeness and for the Official Report, will you confirm that Alexander Sloan has received all the necessary information and explanations that it requires in order to form its opinion on the financial statements?
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
Absolutely.
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
None of those additional costs go against the additional budget that was granted by the Scottish Government. Is that correct? I see the witnesses nodding—good.
I have a couple of other things to ask. Some of the expenditure, such as on staff recruitment costs, is a bit higher. We have talked about staff recruitment. When I look at Audit Scotland, there are several factors that might cause concern if it was another organisation. First, you have lost most of your senior staff. Secondly, your staff turnover is substantial and, thirdly, a substantial number of additional trainees have been taken on. Is there anything there that should cause us concern?
Meeting of the Commission
Meeting date: 22 June 2022
Colin Beattie
Do you have anything to add, Mr Jeffcoat?