Finance: Defra Resource Accounts
Defra, in line with other Government departments, annually produces the resource accounts which are required to be laid before Parliament.
See HM Treasury website for:
The Resource Accounts are produced following UK GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) as detailed in
- HMT Financial Reporting Manual, 2007-08. Section 2.1 (PDF on HMT Financial reporting website) and
- HMT Government Accounting, Contents, Section 12.1
What are Resource Accounts?
Resource Accounts are accruals based financial accounts which show the link between inputs, the Department's aims, objectives and outputs. Accruals accounting is a method of recording expenditure as it is incurred, not when it is paid out, and income as it is earned, not when it is received. See Government Financial Reporting Manual.
National Audit Office (NAO)
The National Audit Office examine the resource accounts in accordance with the UK auditing standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. The audit assesses the judgements made by Defra and the consistent use of appropriate accounting policies in line with the guidance given by the sources detailed above (HMT, UK GAAP, etc). The financial statements are checked to ensure they are free from any material misstatement and that the expenditure and income have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament.
Departmental report
The resource accounts give details of the resources acquired, held, disposed of and used during the financial year, the Defra Departmental Report gives a wider view of Defra's achievements and future challenges.
Defra Resource Accounts
- Resource Accounts 2007-08
- Previous resource accounts (National Archives)
Page last modified:
19 March 2009
Page published: 2 March 2004