WICS’ financial scrutiny continues

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) has come under further press criticism for spending thousands of pounds on management training and development.

A Freedom of Information request reported in papers including The Times and The Herald showed the regulator sent multiple senior leaders on courses that involved time overseas in the Americas. The Herald said that the cost amounted to £500,000 over seven years, some of which had not been formally approved by ministers.

The developments are the latest in a series of issues that first emerged from the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on WICS’ annual report and accounts for 2022-23, which criticised governance and financial management issues. The Scottish Government Public Audit Committee recently requested further information from WICS as the matter continues.