27 February 2009
By David Scott
The auditing and monitoring of the cost of major capital projects in Scotland is ‘often inadequate and piecemeal’, according to an influential committee of MSPs.
In a report published on February 19, the Scottish Parliament’s public audit committee said there was a lack of audit trails and formal reporting mechanisms to enable project managers and accountable officers to identify problems.
The committee’s findings follow an investigation into a review of major capital projects by auditor general Bob Black. He found that too many public building projects were failing to meet budget and timescale estimates.
Committee convener Hugh Henry said: ‘The reporting arrangements for major capital projects are often inadequate and piecemeal in nature.
‘We believe that formal audit trails with detailed time and cost reporting are necessary.’
The committee called on the Scottish Government to ensure more projects were subject to formal review procedures so they were properly managed.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it had already strengthened its project management processes.
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