Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

Financial provisions

17 Grants by Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State must make a grant to SOCA in respect of each of its financial years.

(2) The grant in respect of a financial year is to be paid—

(a) at such time, or

(b) in instalments of such amounts and at such times,

as the Secretary of State may determine (and any such time may fall within or after that year).

18 Determinations relating to grants under section 17

(1) The Secretary of State must determine the amount of the grant to be made under section 17 in respect of each of SOCA’s financial years.

(2) But a determination under subsection (1) may, if the Secretary of State thinks fit, specify a single amount in respect of two or more financial years.

(3) A determination under that subsection may be varied by a subsequent determination.

(4) Where the Secretary of State makes any determination under subsection (1), he must prepare a report—

(a) setting out the determination, and

(b) stating the considerations which he took into account in making it.

(5) The Secretary of State must—

(a) send SOCA a copy of each report under subsection (4), and

(b) lay a copy of each such report before the House of Commons.

(6) In connection with the exercise of his functions under this section, the Secretary of State may require SOCA—

(a) to provide him with such information as he may specify, and

(b) to do so within such period as he may specify.

19 Charges by SOCA and other receipts

(1) SOCA may make charges in respect of—

(a) the provision by SOCA of any goods or services to any person, or

(b) an agreement for the provision by SOCA of any such goods or services.

(2) Any charges made under subsection (1) may include amounts calculated by reference to expenditure incurred, or expected to be incurred, by SOCA otherwise than directly in connection with the provision of the goods or services concerned.

(3) Apart from—

(a) grants under section 17,

(b) sums received under section 30(6), and

(c) sums borrowed by SOCA under paragraph 21 of Schedule 1,

all sums received by SOCA in the course of, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions must be paid to the Secretary of State.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply where the Secretary of State so directs.

(5) Any sums received by the Secretary of State under subsection (3) must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

20 Accounts

(1) SOCA must—

(a) keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts; and

(b) prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year.

(2) A statement of accounts under subsection (1) must be in such form, and contain such information, as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) SOCA must send copies of the statement of accounts for a financial year—

(a) to the Secretary of State, and

(b) to the Comptroller and Auditor General,

within such period following the end of the financial year as the Secretary of State may specify.

(4) The Comptroller and Auditor General must—

(a) examine, certify and report on the statement of accounts, and

(b) lay copies of the statement and of his report before each House of Parliament.