Auditor General

A report by the auditor general detailed how public money was spent sending a senior manager on a course at Harvard Business School in the US, Mulberry sunglasses and business-class flights to New Zealand.

Wics chief executive Alan Sutherland, and its chairman Donald MacRae stood down in the wake of reports by auditor general Stephen Boyle in 2023 and consultant Ernst & Young the following year.

The auditor general's report found that approval for the expenses was only sought afterwards, despite a Scottish government policy stating approval was required in advance for any expenses above £20,000.

The committee's report acknowledged there had been widespread changes to the board and management since the auditor general's findings were published.

Northern Ireland's comptroller and auditor general said about 3,800 patients were potentially subjected to severe harm last year because of ambulance handover delays.