Auditor General issues qualified opinion on Welsh Government 2020-21 accounts

The Auditor General for Wales has issued his opinion and report on the Welsh Government accounts for 2020-21 [opens in new window].
He has qualified his audit opinions because:
- material expenditure relating to certain business grants has been included in the 2020-21 accounts instead of the 2019-20 accounts
- there is a material omission of expenditure relating to clinicians’ pension tax liabilities
- there is insufficient appropriate evidence to determine whether expenditure in the 2020-21 accounts relating to a payment to the former Permanent Secretary is correct and properly authorised
2020-21 was an extraordinary year, with Welsh Government’s reported net resource outturn increasing from £18.1 billion in 2019-20 to £25.2 billion in 2020-21. My audit opinion and report on the Welsh Government’s accounts draws out the issues that our work has identified. I will be providing further information on these matters to the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee (PAPAC).
Adrian Crompton, Auditor General