50THE FLOP
Managers criticised for repeated failures
Bungling senior managers are blighting the delivery of public services at quangos and government departments.
That is the conclusion of Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee in a damning Scottish Government performance report to be published today.
Recurring issues with governance, accountability and management of key IT projects are also identified by the committee of MSPs who studied 50 performance reports across different sectors.
The Scottish Police Authority, NHS Tayside and Edinburgh College were three organisations picked out for particular criticism as a result of poor audit reports in 2017.
Committee convener Jenny Mar ra MSP said : “The committee has looked at 50 Audit Scotland reports and we’ve become frustrated to see the same issues arise again and again.
“Unless the Scot t ish Government and other public sector leaders begin to significantly address the problems that we’ve highlighted today then the same issues will continue to impact public services. “It’s of particular concern when you consider all of the extra new functions that the Scot t ish Government is taking on with regards to social security for example. “If we aren’t getting the basics right how can we have confidence that new powers coming forward are going to be managed competently?”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We continue to support colleagues across the public sector to improve governance and will respond to the report in due course.”
The criticism comes as Nicola Sturgeon prepares to unveil her Programme for Government when Holyrood returns on Tuesday.
It will include 14 new Bills for the coming year in addition to other announcements.
She said: “The Scottish Parliament returns this week in the midst of unprecedented and deeply troubling events at Westminster.
“The UK Government’s one- track obsession with Brexit has left them completely incapable of focusing on vital issues such as tack l ing inequality and climate change.
“This year’s Programme for Government will set out our next steps on how we will lead by example through bold actions, cutting across all parts of government, to tackle climate change.
“These act ions simply cannot be left to others. The consequences of global change will be severe – and for some parts of the world, they will be existential. We must act.
“In addition, the Programme for Government will also focus on continuing to build a successful and fair economy which reduces inequality, improves quality of life and supports and benefits everyone in society.
“Whi le we are doing everything we can to move Scotland forward, the threat to our economy and our society from the right-wing Brexiteer cabal occupying Downing Street cannot be mitigated away.
“Events in the last few days, weeks and months have simply highlighted the need for the people of Scotland to have a say on their future – and the option of a better future offered by independence.”