Auditor General for Scotland. I'm committed to public services that make a difference to people's lives. I report to @SP_PublicAudit and work @AuditScotland
Scotland
Joined September 2018
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One of the findings from my report on the management of the ScotWind leasing round was that it's not clear how the £755m raised is being used.
It's important the Scottish Government is more transparent about its plans.
My report: shorturl.at/nfpBF
Stephen Boyle retweeted
@scotgov's £500 million Offshore Wind Investment Programme aims to speed up the building of port infrastructure and manufacturing facilities to boost the offshore wind supply chain.
But progress has been slow and the programme faces multiple risks: bit.ly/Energy_Renewable
@scotgov needs to be clearer about how it will use £755 million raised by ScotWind.
Whether the high risk and reward approach to the offshore wind leasing round represents value for money will be determined in the coming years.
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Read my new report on the management of the ScotWind leasing round: bit.ly/ScotWind_26
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As financial pressure increases it’s not clear if colleges can continue to deliver for students and employers without urgent and successful reform of the sector.
@scotgov and its partners need to implement our 2025 recommendations at pace.
My report: bit.ly/Colleges_2026
Stephen Boyle retweeted
Is Scotland serious about public service reform?
Auditor General Stephen Boyle reflects on the scale of the challenge facing @scotgov in a new blog:
shorturl.at/88uEq
Stephen Boyle retweeted
.@scotgov records it invests over £3bn in the post-school education and skills sector each year.
It wants to reform this sector, but progress is slow.
Stronger links are needed with plans across areas like economic transformation and climate change: bit.ly/post-school_edu
There’s a concerning gap between intent, planning and progress to deliver post-school education and skills reform.
@scotgov wants to create a simpler system, more responsive to Scotland’s economic and social needs. But progress has been slow: bit.ly/post-school_edu
ALT Image of Auditor General, Stephen Boyle. Text on image says: "A lack of clarity on outcomes, insufficient skills and resourcing, gaps in governance, and uncertainty over the costs and benefits must be addressed".
Progress has been made in cutting the criminal courts backlog and modernising justice services in Scotland.
But a rise in serious cases has put pressure on the justice system and increased the need for reform.
Find my latest report here: bit.ly/criminal_courts_backl…
The Scottish Public Pensions Agency must be more transparent following delays issuing remedy pension statements.
Around 50,000 retired scheme members don't know if they’re due higher pension payments.
It's unclear if an extended deadline will be met: bit.ly/SPPA_2024-25
Since the reform of policing in Scotland in 2013 a lot has been achieved.
The service is well managed and led. But there's more to do, especially around workforce planning and management.
My joint report with @hmics: bit.ly/Policing_BV
People spent 720,000 unnecessary days in hospital in 2024/25.
@scotgov and its partners are focused on reducing delayed discharges.
Now better evaluation is needed to show if initiatives to tackle this problem are improving lives and services: bit.ly/delayed_discharges
Stephen Boyle retweeted
Delayed discharges affect people’s physical and mental health.
In 2024/25 people medically ready to leave spent 720,000 unnecessary days in hospital.
@scotgov and its partners must improve how they evaluate initiatives to tackle delayed discharges: bit.ly/delayed_discharges
There are unacceptable weaknesses in Historic Environment Scotland’s governance arrangements.
It operated for almost six months without a Chief Executive or Accountable Officer, and a substitute should have been appointed by @scotgov.
My new report: bit.ly/HES_2024_25
This time round @scotgov must deliver on its NHS reform plans.
Despite having more staff and money, the health service remains financially unsustainable.
And a lot of government ambitions are longstanding and yet to be delivered.
My NHS overview: bit.ly/NHS_Scotland_25
NHS Tayside’s mental health services still face significant issues, impacting patients, their families and staff.
Despite some progress there hasn’t been significant change.
A lack of clarity and complex governance are impeding the changes needed: bit.ly/NHS_Tayside_24_25
ALT Quote from Auditor General, Stephen Boyle: "Urgent action is needed to be clear on the priorities for improvement, with specific actions, timescales, and costs detailed". Image of Stephen Boyle is also shown.
Devolved taxes are growing Holyrood's budget, but by a lot less than the extra tax people in Scotland have paid.
@scotgov needs to be more transparent about the difference and how it can be addressed.
My new report: bit.ly/devolved_taxes
NHS Grampian and NHS Ayrshire and Arran are financially unsustainable.
Both needed large @scotgov loans to break even in 2024/25.
While not alone in finding it difficult to achieve financial balance, their situations are currently the most pressing: bit.ly/NHShealthboards25
ALT Quote from Auditor General, Stephen Boyle: "For both health boards, effective leadership and close working with the Scottish Government and other partners will be vital to improving their financial sustainability and the delivery of services." Image of Stephen Boyle is also shown.
.@scotgov recorded a £1 billion underspend in 2024/25, in part due to one-off savings.
But it needs to shift away from short-term measures to close a near £5 billion gap between its spending plans and available funding.
My report: bit.ly/SG_accounts_25
Since @scotgov committed to improving Scotland’s care system by 2030, plans have been slow to come together.
Five years on there’s still confusion about what different bodies should be doing to deliver the changes needed.
My report with @AccCommScot: bit.ly/The_Promise_25
My new report out today looks at the health of Scotland’s college sector.
Audit Director, Mark MacPherson discusses some of the findings in the video below.
Find the report here: bit.ly/colleges_2025
Today’s @AuditorGenScot report says Scotland’s colleges face changing how they operate due to ongoing financial pressures.
Audit Director Mark MacPherson explains more in the video below.
And find the full report here: bit.ly/colleges_2025