The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons
I certify that I have audited the financial statements of Water Services Regulation Authority for the year ended 31 March 2011 under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. These comprise the Statement of Parliamentary Supply, the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Cash Flows, the Statement of Changes in Taxpayers’ Equity, and the related notes. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies set out within them. I have also audited the information in the Remuneration Report that is described in that report as having been audited.
Respective responsibilities of the Accounting Officer and auditor
As explained more fully in the Statement of Accounting Officer Responsibilities, the Accounting Officer is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. My responsibility is to audit, certify and report on the financial statements in accordance with the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. I conducted my audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require me and my staff to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.
Scope of the Audit of the Financial Statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Department’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Department; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, I read all the financial and nonfinancial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If I become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies I consider the implications for my certificate.
In addition, I am required to obtain evidence sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the expenditure and income reported in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them.
Opinion on regularity
In my opinion, in all material respects the expenditure and income have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them.
Opinion on financial statements
In my opinion:
- the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Department’s affairs as at 31 March 2011 and of its net cash requirement, net resource outturn and net operating cost for the year then ended; and
- the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000 and HM Treasury directions issued thereunder.
Opinion on other matters
In my opinion:
- the part of the Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions issued under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000; and
- the information given in the Financial Commentary for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
Matters on which I report by exception
I have nothing to report in respect of the following matters which I report to you if, in my opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept;
- the financial statements and the part of the Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with the accounting records or returns; or
- I have not received all of the information and explanations I require for my audit; or
- the Statement on Internal Control does not reflect compliance with HM Treasury’s guidance.
Report
I have no observations to make on these financial statements.
Amyas C E Morse
Comptroller and Auditor General
National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP
29 June 2011
Up to annual report and accounts 2010-11