18(1)An authority must keep accounts in such form as the Secretary of State may determine.E+W
(2)An authority must prepare annual accounts in respect of each financial year in such form as the Secretary of State may determine.
(3)An authority must send copies of the annual accounts to the Secretary of State and the Comptroller and Auditor General within such period after the end of the financial year to which the accounts relate as the Secretary of State may determine.
(4)The Comptroller and Auditor General must examine, certify and report on the annual accounts and must lay copies of the accounts and of his report before Parliament.
(5)In this paragraph and paragraph 19 “financial year”, in relation to an authority, means—
(a)the period beginning with the date on which the authority is established and ending with the next 31st March following that date; and
(b)each successive period of twelve months ending with 31st March.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 1 para. 18 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 122; Sch. 1 para. 18 in force for W. at 1.4.2001 for certain purposes by S.I. 2000/2992, art. 2(2), Sch. 2; Sch. 1 para. 18 in force for E. for certain purposes in so far as not already in force at 9.4.2001 by S.I. 2001/1193, arts. 1(3), 2(3)(b); Sch. 1 para. 18 in force for E. for certain purposes at 7.5.2001 by S.I. 2001/1536, arts. 1(3), 2(2)(a)(ii)