All eyes will be the future of audit in Scotland, after plans were published last week proposing a single body to regulate all public services across the country. The Independent review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland, by Professor Lorne Crerar, has 42 recommendations to improve public scrutiny, including the creation of a single body. If the plans are implemented in Scotland, then it could pave the way for similar calls in England. The report also recommends that all scrutiny organisations should collaborate in future to avoid unnecessary duplication and co-ordinate their activities. ‘What I am proposing is radically different from current arrangements and could eventually lead to the creation of one single scrutiny body,' said Professor Crerar. ‘I do not under-estimate the work that will be required to deliver it.' COSLA president, Pat Watters, also welcomed the report, but said the creation of a single body could take some time. Unison's Scottish secretary, Matt Smith, said: ‘We called for open and transparent systems which provide truly meaningful results to assist in the provision of quality public services.'
