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The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) is issued by the Scottish Ministers to provide guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds.
Cash losses. Physical losses of cash and equivalents (e.g. bank notes, credit cards, electronic transfers, payable orders)
B
Bookkeeping losses
because of unvouched or incompletely vouched payments, including cases where vouchers are missing
because of charges to clear inexplicable or erroneous debit balances
Exchange rate fluctuations. Losses due to fluctuations in exchange rates or revaluations of currencies
Losses of pay, allowances and superannuation benefits paid to civil servants and members of staff of relevant sponsored bodies:
overpayments due to miscalculation, misinterpretation of acts regulations or scheme rules or the full facts not being known
unauthorised issues e.g. payments not admissible under the acts, regulations or scheme rules
losses arising from other causes, e.g. non-disclosure of full facts by the beneficiary, short of proven fraud
Losses arising from overpayments of grants, subsidies etc. arising from miscalculation, misinterpretation of acts, regulations or scheme rules, or the full facts not being known.
Losses arising from failure to make adequate charges for the use of property or services. (See separate guidance on Fees and Charges)
Losses of assets, stores and equipment:
because of fraud (including theft), whether or not it has been possible to charge anyone with an offence, arson or sabotage, or any other deliberate act (including repairable damage caused maliciously to buildings, stores; etc. which is not the subject of an identifiable legal claim against some person)
losses arising from other causes e.g. fire (other than arson), weather damage, accidents beyond the control of any responsible person, deterioration caused by some defect in administration
Update to footnote in the borrowing, lending, and investment section
Updates to wording of Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance.
New FGN note added - FGN 2025/03 financial memoranda that accompany Scottish Government bills.
Updates to the following sections following SPFM Strategic Review: Foreword, Accountability (and annexes), risk and subsidy Control. Also the addition of FGN 2025/02 explaining the updates
Link in point 23 of Settlement, Severance, Early Retirement, Redundancy section updated.
numbering in Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance updated due to a typo
Updated Annex 2 Internal control checklist for Certificates of Assurance, added FGN 2025/01 re CoA checklist and added in a word version of the checklist.
updated missing text in document SPFM - Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document July 2024.
Adding in FGN 2024/03 re the updated AO Spend Control Template and Guidance.
Updating the SRO Appointment letter in the documents section to include a point on construction projects in the Annex.
Executive agencies model framework document updated.
Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document updated.
Updating the SRO Appointment letter in the documents section to this years dates
Updated link to 'On Board: A Guide for Members of Statutory Boards' within Governance statements chapter.
Updates made to model framework document templates.
Updates made to text within Procurement chapter.
Replaced non-ministerial office model framework document and advisory non-departmental public bodies model framework with updated versions.
Document updated with an additional date - Settlement Agreement supporting documentation - final confirmation of terms
Replaced Non-Ministerial Offices model framework document
Updates to the Settlement, Severance, Early Retirement and Redundancy section. The main section and Annex's A, B C have all been updated along with updated documents and a Finance Guidance Note to explain the changes
Updated the Certificates of Assurance chapter, Annex 2 with the CoA checklist questions for 2023/24 and added a Finance Guidance note outling the changes.
Updates made to proportionate due diligence wording, Accountable Officer tests guidance, risk exposure guidance, public bodies duties, monitoring and management, exit arrangements.
Procurement chapter updated.
Updated 'Major investment projects' paragraph 12 and the SRO appointment letter.
