Audit Scotland

Audit Scotland's Annual Audit Report 2023/24 has commended The Highland Council for its effective financial management and governance arrangements. The 2023/24 report, published in November 2024, has been considered by the council’s Audit Committee. It acknowledges "the council’s effecti

Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission have called on all public bodies to deliver on their responsibilities to ensure everyone can access the services they need as more key services move online.

The Scottish Government will not be able to phase out fossil-fuel home heating systems by 2045 unless it significantly increases the scale and pace of activity, Audit Scotland has warned today.

Faster reform of Scotland’s public sector is needed to protect services in the long term and improve people’s lives, according to Audit Scotland. The public body has said that the Scottish Government is facing increased costs, including a higher public sector wage bill, while the cost-of

Longer-term joint planning is needed to address child poverty in Scotland, according to a new report published by Audit Scotland. The Scottish Government’s policies and spending remain more focused on helping children out of poverty rather than long-term measures to prevent it. Child poverty h

Scotland’s councils have increased reserves over the last year but must address the impacts of an overall reduction in funding and ongoing challenges caused by Covid-19.

Ten years on from the Christie Commission, Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland, discusses the continued need for change in Scotland's public services. Ten years ago, the Christie report set out an inspiring agenda for change that would put people at the heart of public services. Unl

Audit Scotland has published its digital progress in local government report recommending that councils across Scotland should have a clear digital vision and strategy that sets out how digital transformation will deliver better outcomes for people. The report found that councils are at different st

The Scottish Government overspent its 2019/20 budget by nearly £700 million responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Audit Scotland.

Audit Scotland's latest briefing paper has found that the coronavirus pandemic will have significant consequences for public spending in Scotland now and well into the future. Analysis of the financial implications of the pandemic and the uncertainty it has brought notes that more of the Scotti

City deals have been positive for Scotland's economy but the Scottish Government does not have a plan to measure their overall long-term success, according to a report by the Accounts Commission and Audit Scotland. The public spending watchdogs said city region and growth deals have enabled economic

A new report conducted by Hanover Scotland has concluded that housing is an untapped resource which could help health and social care boards engage better with older people, delivering more effective services as a result. In the Connecting Communities report published today, the housing association

The Scottish Housing Regulator has announced that this year, it will focus on Gypsy/Traveller site standards as part of its strategic scrutiny activity. Earlier this week, Audit Scotland published its National Scrutiny Plan.

The Scottish Government needs to show greater strategic leadership across the public sector to achieve its digital ambitions, says the spending watchdog.

Scotland’s public spending watchdog has highlighted the strong performance and significant progress made by West Dunbartonshire Council. A representative from Audit Scotland spoke at a council meeting last week where the results of the Accounts Commission’s Best Value audit of the local authorit