Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001

Whole of government accounts

Preparation

14.—(1) The Department shall prepare in respect of each financial year a set of accounts for a group of bodies each of which appears to the Department—

(a) to exercise functions of a public nature, or

(b) to be entirely or substantially funded from public money.

(2) Accounts prepared under this section may include information referring wholly or partly to activities which—

(a) are not activities of bodies falling within subsection (1), but

(b) appear to the Department to be activities of a public nature.

(3) The accounts shall contain such information in such form as the Department thinks fit.

(4) In determining the form and content of the accounts the Department shall aim to ensure that the accounts—

(a) present a true and fair view, and

(b) conform to generally accepted accounting practice subject to such adaptations as are necessary in the context.

(5) For the purpose of subsection (4)(a) and (b) the Department shall in particular—

(a) have regard to any relevant guidance issued by the Accounting Standards Board Limited or any other body prescribed for the purposes of section 256 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) (accounting standards), and

(b) ensure that the accounts include, subject to paragraph (a)—

(i) a statement of financial performance,

(ii) a statement of financial position, and

(iii) a cash flow statement.

Obtaining information

15.—(1) Where the Department intends the accounts under section 14 for a particular financial year to relate in part to a particular body which falls within section 14(1), the Department may by order subject to negative resolution designate that body for the purposes of this section in respect of that year.

(2) Where a body is designated in respect of a financial year it shall—

(a) prepare such financial information in relation to the year as the Department may request,

(b) present the information in such form as the Department may direct,

(c) arrange for the information to be audited, and

(d) deliver the information to the Department, in such manner and by such date in the next year as the Department may direct.

(3) Where a body is designated in respect of a financial year the Department may request it to—

(a) prepare specified financial information in relation to a specified part of the year,

(b) present the information in a specified form, and

(c) deliver the information to the Department in a specified manner by a specified date.

(4) A designated body shall comply with a request under subsection (3).

(5) A designated body shall comply with any direction of the Department as to the person or kind of person to be given responsibility for ensuring compliance with subsections (2) and (3).

Scrutiny

16.—(1) The Department shall send accounts under section 14 to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

(2) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine accounts sent to him under this section with a view to satisfying himself that they present a true and fair view.

(3) Where the Comptroller and Auditor General has conducted an examination of accounts he shall—

(a) certify them and issue a report, and

(b) send the certified accounts and the report to the Department.

(4) The Department shall lay accounts and reports received under subsection (3)(b) before the Assembly.

(5) A person who acts as auditor for the purposes of section 15(2)(c) shall give to the Comptroller and Auditor General such information and explanations as he may reasonably require for the purposes of this section.

(6) The Department shall by order subject to negative resolution specify dates by which the duties under subsections (1), (3)(b) and (4) shall be performed.

(7) Before making an order under subsection (6) the Department shall consult the Comptroller and Auditor General.