Minutes: 24 March 2022

1. Decision on taking business in private:

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

2. The 2020/21 audit of Scottish Canals:

The Committee took evidence on the section 22 report from—

Catherine Topley, Chief Executive, Andrew Thin, Chair, and Sarah Jane Hannah, Director of Finance and Business Services, Scottish Canals;

Hugh Gillies, Interim Chief Executive, Fran Pacitti, Director of Aviation, Maritime, Freight and Canals and Lee Shedden, Financial Controller, Transport Scotland.

3. The 2020/21 audit of Scottish Canals (In Private):

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

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland;

Graeme Greenhill, Senior Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value, Audit Scotland;

Joanne Brown, Partner, Grant Thornton UK LLP.

The Committee agreed to write to Scottish Canals, Transport Scotland and the Office for National Statistics on issues raised during the meeting.

4. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme and agreed to write to the UK and Scottish Governments in relation to the National Fraud Initiative. The Committee also agreed to write to the Economy and Fair Work Committee and draw its attention to the Auditor General for Scotland's Update on the Scottish Government's R100 programme to help inform its future work on broadband connectivity. 

The Committee also agreed to invite the Scottish Government to give oral evidence at a future meeting on the Progress Review of the Scottish Government's relationship with Public Bodies.