By David Scott in Edinburgh
1 March 2011
The Scottish government’s record keeping has come under fire from MSPs after there was found to be little information on how the costs of a new technology system for its flagship concessionary travel scheme soared almost fivefold.
In a report published today, the Holyrood parliament audit committee said it was concerned that the agency Transport Scotland held no documentation explaining how the original cost estimate of £9m for implementing electronic ticketing machine technology for the scheme had been calculated.
By the time the technology was fully operational in December 2010 the costs had soared to £42m.
Following a report by Auditor General Bob Black, the committee was told the former Scottish Executive- which was replaced the present Scottish government in 2007 - had planned to have the technology fully operational for the start of the free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people in 2006.
However, it was not completed until August 2010 and the backup systems were not fully operational until December 2010 – four years later than planned.
Committee convener Hugh Henry MSP said the committee had been told there was insufficient specialist knowledge among the former Scottish Executive staff to be able to accurately estimate the costs, the delivery timescales and risks of the electronic ticketing machine technology.
He added: ‘Consequently this technology was fully implemented four years later than planned, during which time the scheme was open to increased risk of fraud and consultant costs increased.'
Henry called on the Scottish government to ensure that unrealistic timescales and appropriately skilled staff were in place to manage the development of such systems effectively in future.
The committee said there was a need for urgent improvements in the Scottish government’s record keeping on national policies such as the concessionary travel scheme.
