Chamber and committees

Thank you. I look forward to working with you all.

Agenda item 4 is a decision on taking business in private. Is the commission content to take agenda item 6 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Agenda item 3 is choice of deputy chair of the SCPA. I nominate Sharon Dowey.

Sharon Dowey was chosen as deputy chair.

I have one or two questions. I am conscious that we may not get through them all by 1.30, which is our drop-dead time.

The first question is about working remotely. What impact has it had on staff and their ability to deliver the financial audits and the performance audit work programme to a high standard?

I welcome to the meeting our second panel of witnesses: Steven Cunningham, partner, and Jillian So, audit and accounts manager, Alexander Sloan. I invite members to direct questions to Steven, and he will bring Jillian in as appropriate.

I will ask a couple of initial questions for the purposes of the Official Report. Will Alexander Sloan confirm that it has received all the necessary information and explanations that it requires to form its opinion on the financial statements?

Steven, would you like to add anything before we draw the session to a close?

In that case, I thank you both for your attendance. We will move into private session.

Good afternoon, and welcome to the first meeting in session 6 of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit. As the oldest member of the commission, I have the pleasure of chairing this meeting until we formally choose the chair.

Agenda item 1 is declarations of interests. Each of us has to declare any interests that are relevant to the commission’s work. Background information is provided in paper 1.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

I call Sharon Dowey. Please keep the questions and answers fairly concise, as time is tight.

Agenda item 2 is choice of chair of the SCPA. I seek nominations for the position.