bbc.com
WICS Boss's Lavish Expenses
Former WICS chief executive Alan Sutherland's expense claims, including a \u00a3170 wallet and \u00a318,000 flight, prompted a review revealing poor governance.
English
United Kingdom
UkInvestigationScotlandGovernancePublic SectorExpenses
Water Industry Commission For Scotland (Wics)Audit ScotlandErnst & YoungHarvard Business SchoolScottish Government
Alan SutherlandErnst & Young
- What was the conclusion of the review regarding WICS's spending and governance?
- The review concluded that WICS had a "poor control and governance environment", citing inconsistencies in working from home expense claims (desk costs ranging from \u00a3100 to \u00a3600) as further evidence.
- What was the cost of the business class flight to New Zealand approved by Sutherland?
- Sutherland also approved a business class flight to New Zealand for a director and her partner, costing over \u00a318,000; the report questioned the value and appropriateness of this expense.
- How many bulk expense uploads did Sutherland submit, and what was the range of amounts?
- A Scottish government-commissioned review found that Sutherland submitted 28 bulk expense uploads ranging from \u00a3190 to over \u00a321,329 between October 2018 and June 2023.
- What items were included in Alan Sutherland's expense claims that were deemed inappropriate?
- Alan Sutherland, former chief executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), submitted expense claims including a \u00a3170 Mulberry wallet and \u00a3290 glasses, deemed to have no clear business purpose.
- What other lavish spending was revealed at WICS prior to Sutherland's expense claims being investigated?
- The expenses scandal led to Sutherland's resignation from WICS last year, shortly after another report revealed lavish spending, including an \u00a380,000 Harvard Business School course for a senior manager.