Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980

5 (1) The Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury and after consulting the Authority, direct that any statement of account which—

(a) is submitted to him under paragraph 4 above for any financial year, and

(b) is of a kind specified in the direction,

shall be a surplus account.

(2) So much of any surplus in a surplus account as the Secretary of State with the approval of the Treasury directs shall be paid by the Authority to the Secretary of State.

(3) The remainder of the surplus (if any) shall be applied by the Authority for any purpose for which capital money may be properly applied.

(4) The Secretary of State shall for each financial year prepare, in such form and manner as the Treasury may approve, an account of the sums received by him under this paragraph.

(5) The Secretary of State shall, on or before 30th November in any year, transmit to the Comptroller and Auditor General the said account for the financial year last ended.

(6) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine and certify the account submitted to him, and lay copies of it together with his report before each House of Parliament.