All reports published in 2008/09
On this page you can find all our national reports (including our audits of Best Value and Community Planning), corporate publications and Section 22 reports listed in order of date published. The list does not include annual audit reports.
A review of palliative care services in Scotland
21 August 2008 for the Auditor General
Access to good palliative care in Scotland needs to improve and it must be more consistently provided for the thousands of people who need it each year.
A review of palliative care services in Scotland (PDF | 3.70MB)
A review of palliative care services in Scotland (RTF | 335 KB)
Key messages - palliative care (PDF | 136 KB)
Key messages - palliative care (RTF | 71 KB)
Supplement - District nurse survey (PDF | 585 KB)
Supplement - Issues for Non-exec board members (PDF | 244 KB)
Supplement - Patients' views (PDF | 329 KB)
Supplement - Survey of bereaved families and friends (PDF | 868 KB)
Press release - Palliative care (PDF | 24 KB)
Podcast - Palliative care (MP3 | 1.24MB)
Podcast transcript - Palliative care (RTF | 27 KB)
Perth & Kinross Council: the audit of Best Value and Community Planning
12 August 2008 for the Accounts Commission
Perth & Kinross council is carrying out good work and has the capacity and ability to build on this, so that further improvements can be made in service performance.
Perth & Kinross Council (PDF | 1.58MB)
Perth & Kinross Council (RTF | 263 KB)
Press release - Perth & Kinross Council (PDF | 30 KB)
Podcast - Perth & Kinross Council (MP3 | 1.11MB)
Podcast transcript - Perth & Kinross Council (RTF | 21 KB)
Scottish fire and rescue authorities 2007/08 - progress report
17 July 2008 for the Accounts Commission
Fire and rescue authorities have made progress in reforming services, according to an Audit Scotland report published today on behalf of the Accounts Commission. However, they still need to do much more to ensure they are working as effectively and efficiently as possible and delivering best value services.
Scottish fire and rescue authorities 2007/08 - progress report (PDF | 581 KB)
Scottish fire and rescue authorities 2007/08 - progress report (RTF | 115 KB)
Press release - fire and rescue (PDF | 26 KB)
Podcast - fire and rescue (MP3 | 879 KB)
Podcast transcript - fire and rescue (RTF | 20 KB)
Health and Community Care Bulletin
16 July 2008 for Audit Scotland
The bulletin is intended to give a summary of our national
studies, particularly the issues of most relevence to
health boards. It also identifies issues that non-executive
health board members may wish to consider locally.
Review of the new General Medical Services contract
3 July 2008 for the Auditor General
The new contract for GP practices should have been better planned and will take time to improve care for patients. However, there is evidence of improvement in the care of some patients.
Review of the new General Medical Services contract (PDF | 624 KB)
Review of the new General Medical Services contract (RTF | 175 KB)
Key messages - General Medical Services (PDF | 151 KB)
Key messages - General Medical Services (RTF | 57 KB)
Press release - General Medical Services (PDF | 24 KB)
Podcast - General Medical Services (MP3 | 1.53MB)
Podcast transcript - General Medical Services (RTF | 23 KB)
Audit Scotland Annual Report and accounts 2007/08
25 June 2008 for Audit Scotland
Our annual report and accounts for 2007/08.
Audit Scotland Annual Report 2007/08 (PDF | 824 KB)
Audit Scotland Annual Report 2007/08 (RTF | 242 KB)
Annual accounts 2007/08 (PDF | 318 KB)
Accounts Commission Annual Report 2007/08
25 June 2008 for the Accounts Commission
Our annual report for 2007/08.
Accounts Commission Annual Report 2007/08 (PDF | 460 KB)
Accounts Commission Annual Report 2007/08 (RTF | 66 KB)
Annual diversity monitoring report 2007/08
24 June 2008 for Audit Scotland
This report provides an analysis of Audit Scotland’s staff profile by ethnicity, age, gender and working patterns.
Review of major capital projects - How government works
24 June 2008 for the Auditor General
This is the first systematic review of major public sector capital projects in Scotland. The Scottish Government is currently spending about £4.7 billion on projects such as roads, railways, prisons and hospitals.
Review of major capital projects (PDF | 2.28MB)
Review of major capital projects (RTF | 108 KB)
Key messages - Review of major capital projects (PDF | 238 KB)
Key messages - Review of major capital projects (RTF | 62 KB)
Press release - Review of major capital projects (PDF | 22 KB)
Podcast - Review of major capital projects (MP3 | 1.07MB)
Podcast transcript - Review of major capital projects (RTF | 21 KB)
Good practice checklist for public bodies (PDF | 1.58MB)
Summary of projects reviewed (PDF | 1.93MB)
Aberdeenshire Council: the audit of Best Value and Community Planning
20 June 2008 for the Accounts Commission
The Commission welcomes sound performance by Aberdeenshire Council, but says a more strategic approach is needed.
Aberdeenshire Council (PDF | 1.25MB)
Aberdeenshire Council (RTF | 247 KB)
Press release - Aberdeenshire Council (PDF | 31 KB)
Podcast - Aberdeenshire Council (MP3 | 1.20MB)
Podcast transcript - Aberdeenshire Council (RTF | )
Midlothian Council: the audit of Best Value and Community Planning
17 June 2008 for the Accounts Commission
The council demonstrates effective engagement with communities and generally sound financial management but needs to do more before it is in a position fully to demonstrate Best Value and continuous improvement.
Midlothian Council (PDF | 914 KB)
Midlothian Council (RTF | 235 KB)
Press release - Midlothian Council (PDF | 25 KB)
Podcast - Midlothian Council (MP3 | 881 KB)
Podcast transcript - Midlothian Council (RTF | 32 KB)
Orkney Islands Council: the audit of best value and community planning
5 June 2008 for the Accounts Commission
In its first report on Best Value at Orkney Islands Council, the Accounts Commission for Scotland says the council has good leadership and performs well in a number of areas.
Orkney Islands Council (PDF | 1.20MB)
Orkney Islands Council (RTF | 186 KB)
Press release - Orkney Islands Council (PDF | 30 KB)
Podcast - Orkney Islands Council (MP3 | 892 KB)
Podcast transcript - Orkney Islands Council (RTF | 20 KB)
Aberdeen City Council: the Audit of Best Value and Community Planning
29 May 2008 for the Accounts Commission
The Commission decided that in light of the concerns highlighted in the Controller of Audit’s report it would hold a Hearing to gather more evidence. This took place on 13 and 14 May. The Commission then published its findings.
Aberdeen City Council (PDF | 1.78MB)
Aberdeen City Council: Property sales investigation (PDF | 49 KB)
Aberdeen City Council: Property sales investigation (RTF | 185 KB)
Aberdeen City Council hearing transcript (PDF | 567 KB)
Aberdeen City Council findings (PDF | 2.95MB)
Press release - Aberdeen findings (PDF | 36 KB)
Podcast - Aberdeen findings (MP3 | 2.22MB)
Podcast transcript - Aberdeen findings (RTF | 25 KB)
Press release - Aberdeen property sales (PDF | 31 KB)
North Lanarkshire Council: the audit of Best Value and Community Planning
28 May 2008 for the Accounts Commission
The Commission welcomes the council’s good strategic direction and pace of change, and says it has good leadership and clear vision.
North Lanarkshire Council (PDF | 1.06MB)
North Lanarkshire Council (RTF | 261 KB)
Press release - North Lanarkshire Council (PDF | 29 KB)
Podcast - North Lanarkshire Council (MP3 | 711 KB)
Podcast transcript - North Lanarkshire Council (RTF | 19 KB)
Falkirk Council: the audit of Best Value and Community Planning
23 May 2008 for the Accounts Commission
Falkirk Council shows good, solid performance with many characteristics of best value, while still having room for improvement in some areas.
Falkirk Council (PDF | 886 KB)
Falkirk Council (RTF | 280 KB)
Press release - Falkirk Council (PDF | 29 KB)
Podcast - Falkirk Council (MP3 | 664 KB)
Podcast transcript - Falkirk Council (RTF | 20 KB)
The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland 2006/07
15 May 2008 for the Auditor General / Accounts Commission
Almost £10 million worth of fraud and errors have been identified following a national detection exercise by Audit Scotland working together with other public bodies.
The 2008/09 handbook for Scotland, published 5 June 2008, includes important guidance and instructions for participating bodies, including data requirements, data specifications, the 2008/09 NFI timetable and new guidance about fair processing notices for individuals whose information is provided for NFI purposes.
The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland 2006/07 (PDF | 727 KB)
The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland 2006/07 (RTF | 113 KB)
Press release - National Fraud Initiative (PDF | 29 KB)
Podcast - National Fraud Initiative (MP3 | 1.52MB)
Podcast transcript - National Fraud Initiative (RTF | 25 KB)
National Fraud Initiative 2008/09 – Handbook - Scotland (PDF | 740 KB)
Managing increasing prisoner numbers in Scotland
8 May 2008 for the Auditor General
Significant amounts of money have been spent improving the conditions inside Scotland’s prisons, but more than one in five prisoners are still sharing cells designed for one person.
Managing increasing prisoner numbers in Scotland (PDF | 1.11MB)
Managing increasing prisoner numbers in Scotland (RTF | 262 KB)
Key messages - prisoner numbers (PDF | 227 KB)
Key messages - prisoner numbers (RTF | 65 KB)
Supplement: Comparisons with other countries (PDF | 489 KB)
Press release - prisoner numbers (PDF | 23 KB)
Podcast - prisoner numbers (MP3 | 834 KB)
Podcast transcript - prisoner numbers (RTF | 21 KB)
The 2006/07 audit of Kilmarnock College
1 May 2008 for the Auditor General
Aberdeen City Council: Property sales investigation
30 April 2008 for the Accounts Commission
A report by the Controller of Audit to the Accounts Commission under Section 102(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Aberdeen City Council: Property sales investigation (PDF | 49 KB)
Aberdeen City Council: Property sales investigation (RTF | 185 KB)
Press release - Aberdeen property sales (PDF | 31 KB)
The 2006/07 audit of James Watt College
29 April 2008 for the Auditor General
A performance overview of sport in Scotland
29 April 2008 for the Auditor General
Fewer people are regularly taking part in sport and many facilities need improvement. Hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games provides a good opportunity to promote sport in Scotland.
A performance overview of sport in Scotland (PDF | 968 KB)
A performance overview of sport in Scotland (RTF | 164 KB)
Press release - sport overview (PDF | 23 KB)
Podcast - sport overview (MP3 | 1.05MB)
Podcast transcript - sport overview (RTF | 21 KB)
Financial overview of Scotland's colleges 2006/07
24 April 2008 for the Auditor General
Scotland’s colleges are in a healthier financial state overall, and financial performance has improved in the past five years. However colleges will need to respond to cost pressures and tighter funding in the next few years.


