17(1)It is the duty of the Agency—E+W
(a)to keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts,
(b)to prepare in respect of each financial year of the Agency a statement of accounts, and
(c)to send copies of the statement to the Secretary of State and to the Comptroller and Auditor General by such time as the Secretary of State may direct.
(2)The statement of accounts must comply with any directions given by the Secretary of State as to—
(a)the information to be contained in it,
(b)the manner in which the information contained in it is to be presented, or
(c)the methods and principles according to which the statement is to be prepared,
and must contain such additional information as the Secretary of State may require to be provided for the information of Parliament.
(3)The Comptroller and Auditor General must examine, certify and report on each statement received by him in pursuance of this paragraph and shall lay copies of each statement and of his report before each House of Parliament.
(4)In this paragraph “financial year” means each period of twelve months beginning with 1st April.