On 13 June 2023, the Auditor General for Scotland published the 2021/22 audit of Scottish Canals.
The report says:
"The auditors have been unable to provide an opinion on the 2021/22 financial statements of Scottish Canals, due to a lack of sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. This reflects ongoing issues around the valuation of Scottish Canals’ assets. These issues are significant enough to impact the financial statements as a whole. This means there is a lack of public assurance over Scottish Canals’ financial position and performance, and the regularity of its transactions".
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; Mark Taylor, Audit Director, Audit Scotland; and Joanne Brown, Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 29 June 2023
Read the Official Report, 29 June 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 29 June 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to invite Scottish Canals and Transport Scotland to give oral evidence at a future meeting.
The Committee took evidence from:
John Paterson, Chief Executive, Maureen Campbell, Chair, Sarah Jane Hannah, Director of Finance and Business Services; and Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Canals.
Alison Irvine, Interim Chief Executive; Gary Cox, Interim Director Aviation, Maritime, Freight and Canals; and Kerry Twyman, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Transport Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 21 September 2023
Read the Official Report, 21 September 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 21 September 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of agenda item 4 on 21 September 2023 to a future meeting.
Decision: At its meeting on 28 September 2023 the Committee agreed to write to Scottish Canals and Transport Scotland.
Decision: At its meeting on 9 May 2024 the Committee noted correspondence from the Auditor General for Scotland and agreed to close its scrutiny of the 2021/22 audit of Scottish Canals.