Corporate report

Trust statement

Updated 20 October 2023

Foreword by the Accounting Officer

The Trust Statement accounts for the income BEIS collects as an agent of the HMT Consolidated Fund. In 2022-23, BEIS collected income for the 5 schemes listed below.

EU emissions trading scheme

EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) is the largest emissions trading system to reduce GHG emissions. It caps the amount of GHG emissions participants can emit and allows trading of allowances so that total emissions stay within the cap. The UK left EU ETS on 31 December 2020, after the end of the transition period. Northern Ireland electricity generators remain in EU ETS by virtue of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol. So, EU ETS remains an income stream.

UK emissions trading scheme

UK Emissions trading scheme (UK ETS) replaced the UK’s participation in the EU ETS on 1 January 2021. The UK ETS caps the total amount of certain GHG that can be emitted by participants. Participants receive free allowances and can also buy emission allowances at auction or on the secondary market which they can trade with other participants as needed.

Carbon reduction commitment

Carbon reduction commitment (CRC) is an energy efficiency scheme, mandatory for large, non-energy intensive organisations. CRC closed at the end of the 2018-19 compliance year to simplify the landscape for energy efficiency tax on businesses. In April 2019, the reporting element of CRC was replaced by the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework.

Climate change agreements

Climate change agreements (CCA) is voluntary energy efficiency scheme for businesses in energy intensive sectors. CCA is an agreement to meet stretching targets in exchange for a reduced Climate Change Levy (CCL) of up to 93%. The scheme was launched in April 2013 and runs until 31 March 2025.

Energy saving opportunity scheme

Energy saving opportunity scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for all large organisations in the UK. Qualifying organisations must audit the energy use of their buildings, industrial processes, and transport every 4 years, to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. The scheme runs until 5 December 2027. Phase III runs until 5 December 2023.

Governance statement

The department’s governance statement covers the accounts and the Trust Statement.

Auditors

These financial statements have been audited, under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is appointed under statute and reports to Parliament. The audit opinion is on pages 353 to 359. The auditor’s notional remuneration is included within the department’s accounts.

Statement of Accounting Officer’s responsibilities for the trust statement

Under section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, HM Treasury has directed the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to prepare for each financial year a Trust Statement in the form and on the basis set out in the Accounts Direction.

HM Treasury has appointed the Permanent Secretary as Accounting Officer of BEIS with overall responsibility for preparing the Trust Statement and for transmitting it to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The Accounting Officer is responsible for ensuring that: there is a high standard of financial management, including a sound system of internal control; that financial systems and procedures promote the efficient and economical conduct of business and safeguard financial propriety and regularity; that financial considerations are fully taken into account in decisions on policy proposals; and that risk is considered in relation to assessing value for money.

The Accounting Officer is responsible for the fair and efficient administration of the EU ETS and UK ETS including conducting the auction of the Allowances, collection of the proceeds and onward transmission of the funds in their entirety to the Consolidated Fund.

The Accounting Officer is also responsible for the collection of CRC Allowances and CCA buy-out payments for onward transmission to the Consolidated Fund and, the collection of civil penalties levied under the EU ETS, UK ETS, CCA, CRC, and ESOS schemes for onward transmission to the Consolidated Fund.

The responsibilities of the Accounting Officer, including responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the public finances for which an Accounting Officer is answerable, for keeping proper records and for safeguarding the department’s assets, are set out in Managing Public Money published by HM Treasury.

The Trust Statement must give a true and fair view of:

  • the statement of affairs of the EU ETS, UK ETS, CCA Schemes and penalties issued under the EU ETS, UK ETS, ESOS, CCA and CRC Schemes. These streams of income are recognised on an accruals basis;
  • the state of affairs of the CRC Allowance Scheme sales which are recognised on a cash received basis
  • the revenue collected, and expenditure incurred together with the net amounts surrendered to the Consolidated Fund

In preparing the Trust Statement, the Accounting Officer is required to comply with the requirements of the Government Financial Reporting Manual and in particular to:

  • observe the Accounts Direction issued by HM Treasury, including the relevant accounting and disclosure requirements, and apply suitable accounting policies on a consistent basis
  • make judgements and estimates on a reasonable basis
  • state whether applicable accounting standards as set out in the Government Financial Reporting Manual have been followed, and disclose and explain any material departures in the accounts
  • prepare the Trust Statement on a going- concern basis

Accounting Officer’s confirmation

As the Accounting Officer, I have taken all the steps that I ought to have taken to make myself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the department’s auditors are aware of that information. So far as I am aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware. The annual report and accounts as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable. I take personal responsibility for the annual report and accounts and the judgements required for determining that it is fair, balanced and understandable.

Sarah Munby
Permanent Secretary and Principal Accounting Officer

10 October 2023

The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons

Opinion on financial statements

I have audited the financial statements of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Trust Statement (‘the Trust Statement’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

The financial statements comprise the Trust Statement’s:

  • Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2023;
  • Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure, and Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended; and
  • the related notes including the significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial statements is applicable law and UK adopted international accounting standards.

In my opinion, the financial statements:

  • give a true and fair view of the state of the Trust Statement’s affairs as at 31 March 2023 and its net revenue for the Consolidated Fund for the year then ended; and
  • have been properly prepared in accordance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 and HM Treasury directions issued thereunder.

Opinion on regularity

In my opinion, in all material respects, the income and expenditure recorded in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions recorded in the financial statements conform to the authorities which govern them.

Basis for opinions

I conducted my audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs UK), applicable law and Practice Note 10 ‘Audit of Financial Statements and Regularity of Public Sector Bodies in the United Kingdom (2022)’. My responsibilities under those standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements’ section of my report.

Those standards require me and my staff to comply with the Financial Reporting Council’s ‘Revised Ethical Standard 2019’. I have also elected to apply the ethical standards relevant to listed entities. I am independent of the Trust Statement in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to my audit of the financial statements in the UK. My staff and I have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, I have concluded that the Trust Statement’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work I have performed, I have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Trust Statement’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

My responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Accounting Officer with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this certificate.

The going concern basis of accounting for the Trust Statement is adopted in consideration of the requirements set out in HM Treasury’s Government Financial Reporting Manual, which requires entities to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements where it is anticipated that the services which they provide will continue into the future.

Other information

The other information comprises information included in the Performance Report, Accountability Report and Foreword to the Trust Statement, but does not include the financial statements and my auditor’s report thereon. The Accounting Officer is responsible for the other information.

My opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in my report, I do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

My responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or my knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If I identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, I am required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work I have performed, I conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, I am required to report that fact.

I have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters

In my opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

  • the parts of the Accountability Report subject to audit have been properly prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions made under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921; and
  • the information given in the Performance Report, Accountability Report and Foreword to the Trust Statement for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements and is in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which I report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Trust Statement and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, I have not identified material misstatements in the Performance Report, Accountability Report and Foreword to the Trust Statement.

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 by the Trust Statement or returns adequate for my audit have not been received from branches not visited by my staff; or
  • I have not received all of the information and explanations I require for my audit; or
  • the financial statements and the parts of the Accountability Report subject to audit are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
  • the Governance Statement does not reflect compliance with HM Treasury’s guidance.

Responsibilities of the Accounting Officer for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the Statement of Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities for the Trust Statement, the Accounting Officer is responsible for:

  • maintaining proper accounting records;
  • providing the C&AG with access to all information of which management is aware that is relevant to the preparation of the financial statements such as records, documentation and other matters;
  • providing the C&AG with additional information and explanations needed for his audit;
  • providing the C&AG with unrestricted access to persons within the Department from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit evidence;
  • ensuring such internal controls are in place as deemed necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements to be free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error;
  • ensuring that the financial statements give a true and fair view and are prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions made under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000;
  • ensuring that the Performance Report, Accountability Report and Foreword to the Trust Statement is prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions made under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921; and
  • assessing the Trust Statement’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Accounting Officer anticipates that the services provided by the Trust Statement will not continue to be provided in the future.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

My responsibility is to audit and report on the financial statements in accordance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

My objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a report that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud

I design procedures in line with my responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud. The extent to which my procedures are capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud is detailed below.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, I:

  • considered the nature of the sector, control environment and operational performance including the design of the Trust Statement’s accounting policies.
  • inquired of management, the Department’s head of internal audit and those charged with governance, including obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation relating to the Trust Statement’s policies and procedures on:
    • identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations;
    • detecting and responding to the risks of fraud; and
    • the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations including the Department’s controls relating to the Trust Statement’s compliance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, Managing Public Money, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning Regulations 2021;
  • inquired of management, the Department’s head of internal audit and those charged with governance whether:
    • they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations;
    • they had knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud,
  • discussed among the engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.

As a result of these procedures, I considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the Trust Statement for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: revenue recognition and posting of unusual journals and complex transactions. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), I am required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

I obtained an understanding of the Trust Statement’s framework of authority and other legal and regulatory frameworks in which the Trust Statement operates. I focused on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the Trust Statement. The key laws and regulations I considered in this context included the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, Managing Public Money, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning Regulations 2021.

Audit response to identified risk

To respond to the identified risks resulting from the above procedures:

  • I reviewed the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described above as having direct effect on the financial statements;
  • I enquired of management, the Department’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and in-house legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;
  • I reviewed minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and the Board; and internal audit reports;
  • in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, I tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessed whether the judgements on estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluated the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

I also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential risks of fraud to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of my responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of my certificate.

Other auditor’s responsibilities

I am required to obtain evidence sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the expenditure and income recorded in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions recorded in the financial statements conform to the authorities which govern them.

I communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control I identify during my audit.

Report

I have no observations to make on these financial statements.

Gareth Davies
Comptroller and Auditor General

13 October 2023

National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP

Statement of revenue, other income and expenditure

for the period ended 31 March 2023

Note 2022-23 (£’000) 2021-22 (£’000)
Revenue      
License fees and taxes      
EU ETS auction income 2.1 57,003 85,916
UK ETS auction income 2.1 6,048,951 5,753,639
CRC allowance sales 2.1 (191) -
CCA buy-out payments income 2.1 47 35,539
Total licence fees and taxes   6,105,810 5,875,094
Fines and penalties      
Civil penalties – EU ETS   46,658 (2,316)
Civil penalties – ESOS   1,514 398
Civil penalties – CRC   2 (33)
Civil penalties – CCA   2 60
Total fines and penalties 2.2 48,176 (1,891)
Total revenue and other income   6,153,986 5,873,203
Expenditure      
Foreign exchange and interest - EU ETS 3.1 157 (74)
Credit losses – debts written off 3.2 (39,035) (130,570)
Total expenditure   (38,878) (130,644)
Net revenue for the Consolidated Fund   6,115,108 5,742,559

The notes on pages pages 353 to 359 form part of this statement.

Statement of financial position

as at 31 March 2023

Note 31 March 2023 (£’000) 31 March 2022 (£’000)
Current assets      
Receivables and accrued fees 4 11,123 10,349
Cash and cash equivalents 5 37,939 29,466
Total current assets   49,062 39,815
Current liabilities      
Payables 6 (634) (371)
Total current liabilities   (634) (371)
Net current assets   48,428 39,444
Total net assets      
Represented by:   - -
Balance on Consolidated Fund Accounts   48,428 39,444

The notes on pages 353 to 359 form part of this statement.

Sarah Munby
Permanent Secretary and Principal Accounting Officer

10 October 2023

Statement of cash flows

for the period ended 31 March 2023

Note 2022–23 £’000 2021–22 £’000
Net cash flows from operating activities A 6,114,597 5,877,051
Cash paid to the Consolidated Fund 7 (6,106,124) (5,882,482)
Increase/(decrease) in cash in this period B 8,473 (5,431)

Notes to the statement of cash flows

Note 2022–23 £’000 2021–22 £’000
A: Reconciliation of Net Cash Flow to Movement in Net Funds      
Net Revenue for the Consolidated Fund 7 6,115,108 5,742,559
(Increase)/decrease in receivables and accrued fees 4 (774) 136,918
Increase/(decrease) in payables 6 263 (2,426)
Net cash flows from operating activities   6,114,597 5,877,051
B: Analysis in changes in Net Funds      
Increase/(decrease) in cash in this period   8,473 (5,431)
Net Funds as at 1 April (net cash at bank) 5 29,466 34,897
Net Funds as at 31 March (closing balance) 5 37,939 29,466

Notes to the trust statement

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of Preparation

On 7 February 2023, the prime minister announced a major machinery of government change which redistributed the activities of several existing government departments, including BEIS, and created 3 new departments, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The Trust Statement has been designated to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero with Accounting Officer responsibilities formally transferred from 1 April 2023. It has accordingly been considered appropriate to adopt a going concern basis for the preparation of these financial statements’ after 1 April 2023.

1.2 Basis of accounting

The Trust Statement is prepared in accordance with the accounts direction issued by HM Treasury under section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. The Trust Statement is prepared in accordance with the accounting policies detailed below. These have been agreed between the BEIS (the department) and HM Treasury and have been developed in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and other relevant guidance. The accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items considered material in relation to the accounts.

The income and associated expenditure contained in the departmental Trust Statement are those flows of funds which the department administers on behalf of the Consolidated Fund.

The financial information in the Trust Statement is rounded to the nearest £’000.

The Trust Statement is presented in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the department.

1.3 Accounting convention

The Trust Statement has been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention.

1.4 Revenue recognition

The FReM extends the definition of a contract under IFRS 15 para 9 to include legislation and regulations which enable an entity to obtain revenue that is not classified as a tax by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). As EU-ETS auction income, UK ETS auction income and CRC allowances sales are classified as taxes by ONS, and CCA income meets the definition of a tax under ONS’s guidance, IFRS 15 is not applicable to the revenue streams of the BEIS Trust Statement.

Income from these schemes is recognised as follows:

  • EU ETS receipts represent proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances under Phase III. Revenue is recognised at the close of each competitive auction, when the revenue can be measured reliably.
  • UK ETS receipts represent proceeds from the auction of carbon allowances. Revenue is recognised at the close of each competitive auction, when the revenue can be measured reliably.
  • Revenue in respect of CCA buy-out payments is recognised on an accruals basis, albeit the recognition point is when the income is received.
  • Revenue in respect of civil penalties is recognised when the penalty is imposed.

All result in a cash flow to the Consolidated Fund. This has resulted in no difference to the income recognition methodology applied in previous years.

CRC participants may request refunds for over-surrendered allowances (note 9 Contingent Liabilities refers). These are accounted for in the period in which the refund request is authorised and processed.

1.5 Financial instruments

A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument of another entity. Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Statement of Financial Position when the department becomes a party to the contractual provisions of an instrument.

1.6 Financial assets

For the purposes of this Trust Statement, the department holds financial assets in the following categories:

  • receivables held at amortised cost
  • cash and cash equivalent held at amortised cost

Receivables held at amortised cost comprise:

  • for EU ETS and UK ETS the amounts due from primary participants in respect of established auction liabilities for which, at the financial year end, payments had not been received. The amounts due are calculated at the close of each auction and have a maturity of less than 3 months
  • civil penalties levied against participants in the EU ETS, UK ETS, ESOS, CCA and CRC schemes, amounts for which have not been received at the financial year end.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise current balances with banks and other financial institutions, which are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value and have an original maturity of 3 months or less.

1.7 Financial liabilities

For the purposes of this Trust Statement the department holds financial liabilities in the following category:

  • Other financial liabilities – which comprise - Payables in the Statement of Financial Position. Payables are amounts established as due at the reporting date, but where payment is made subsequently. Since these balances are expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date there is no material difference between fair value, amortised cost and historical cost.

1.8 Foreign currency

Transactions that are denominated in a foreign currency are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling on the date of each transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency at the year-end are translated at the rates ruling at that date unless a forward rate has been fixed with the Bank of England. All translation differences are included in the Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure for the period.

2. Revenue

2.1 Revenue

2022–23
£’000
2021–22
£’000
EU ETS - auctions income 57,003 85,916
UK ETS – auctions income 6,048,951 5,753,639
CRC allowance sales (191) -
CCA buy-out payment income receivable 47 35,539
Total 6,105,810 5,875,094
EU ETS

Auction dates and units auctioned for EUA Phase III are available on The European Energy Exchange (EEX) website on the auction calendar link at: www.eex.com/en/market-data/environmental-markets/eua-primary-auction-spot-download.

UK ETS

Auction dates for UK Emission Allowances are available on the Intercontinental Exchange website at www.theice.com/emissions/auctions/uk-emission-allowances.

CCA

In 2022-23, the income from buy-out payments generated £47,310 (2021–22: £35.54 million). This decrease is due to 2021-22 being the primary reporting period income for Target Reporting Period IV.

2.2 Revenue from civil penalties

2022‑23
Number of penalties
2022‑23
Revenue before adjustments and refunds[Note 1]
£’000
2022‑23
Revenue
£’000
2021‑22
Number of penalties
2021‑22
Revenue
£’000
Levied under EU ETS 153 46,574 46,658 21 (2,316)
Levied under CRC 1 2 2 1 (33)
Levied under CCA 3 2 2 13 60
Levied under ESOS 89 1,514 1,514 32 398
Total 246 48,092 48,176 67 (1,891)

Notes:

  1. Revenue before adjustments and refunds in relation to prior years

3. Expenditure and disbursements

3.1 Costs incurred in the collection of receipts

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Foreign currency translation (gains)/losses - EU ETS (157) 72
Interest charges on Euro auction bank account - EU ETS - 2
Total (157) 74

3.2 Credit losses

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
De-recognition of EU ETS penalties 37,639 130,570
Impairment of doubtful debts during the year 1,396  
Total 39,035 130,570

During the year, receivables of £37.6 million were written off. The amount was due from companies either insolvency or in liquidation. There is no expectation that the funds will be recovered.

Expenditure incurred to administer the schemes are provided below. These costs are included in the BEIS accounts because there is no express statutory provision to deduct them from the revenue collected and paid to the Consolidated Fund.

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
EU ETS 293,673 1,723,811
UK ETS 1,837,085 647,955
CRC 76,677 21,916
CCA 370,025 310,376
ESOS 1,102,727 1,421,948

4. Receivables and accrued fees

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Civil Penalties receivable 11,123 10,349
Total 11,123 10,349

5. Cash and cash equivalents

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Balance as at 1 April 29,466 34,897
Net change in cash and cash equivalent balances 8,473 (5,431)
Balance at 31 March 2023 37,939 29,466
The following balances at 31 March 2023 were held at:
Government Banking Service
37,939 29,466
Total 37,939 29,466

6. Payables

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Other 634 371
Total 634 371

7. Balance on the Consolidated Funds accounts

2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Balance on the consolidated Fund as at 1 April 39,444 179,367
Net revenue for the Consolidated Fund 6,115,108 5,742,559
Less amounts paid to the Consolidated Fund (6,106,124) (5,882,482)
Balance on the Consolidated Fund as at 31 March 2023 48,428 39,444

8. Financial Instruments

8.1 Classification and categorisation of financial instruments

Financial assets 2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Cash 37,939 29,466
Civil penalties receivable 11,123 10,349
Total financial assets 49,062 39,815
Financial liabilities 2022‑23
£’000
2021‑22
£’000
Other Payables -634 (371)
Total financial liabilities -634 (371)

8.2 Risk exposure to financial instruments


EU ETS

EU ETS is exposed to foreign currency risk due to the timing difference in recognising proceeds at the auction and converting proceeds into sterling one day after the close of the auction. This results in either an exchange loss or gain. As shown in note 3.1 there was £157,000 exchange rate gain incurred as at 31 March 2023, (31 March 2022: loss of £74,000).

EU ETS is not exposed to interest rate or liquidity risk. It’s exposure to market risk is limited due to there being a current demand for carbon allowances. Civil penalties are subject to credit risk. The level of credit risk varies depending on the level of penalties being issued, and increases when they relate to entities in administration.

UK ETS

UK ETS is not exposed to foreign currency risk, interest rate or liquidity risk. It’s exposure to market risk is limited due to there being a current demand for carbon allowances.

CCA

CCA buy-out payment revenue is subject to credit risk, but this risk is assessed by management as low, due to the nature of participants in the scheme. All fees under the regime are received in sterling minimising any other risks.

Information to help evaluate the significance of financial instruments on the department’s financial performance and position and the nature and extent of the department’s exposure to other risks can be found in note 24 to the department’s Accounts.

9. Contingent liability

CRC

A contingent liability exists for refunds the department may have to pay to CRC participants who have over-surrendered allowances. This is as a result of legislation included in the CRC Order 2013. The refunds are contingent upon participants being able to prove the over-surrender was due to a reporting error and must be agreed by the Secretary of State.

The department is unable to quantify the amount of future refunds but based on the most recent information available from the scheme administrators, the refunds are not expected to be significant. Future refunds will be paid as and when they fall due out of future scheme receipts.

CCA

A contingent liability exists in the secondary reporting phase of each Target Reporting Period. This is where a participant has undergone review or audit procedures and it is deemed they have overpaid. Thus, the participant is due a refund. The department must retain sufficient funds to cover these refunds.

10. Events after the reporting period

There are no events after the reporting period to report on.

11. Date Accounts authorised for issue

The Accounting Officer has authorised these Accounts to be issued on the same day as they were certified.

Annexes to the trust statement

Annex D

Accounts Direction given by HM Treasury in accordance with Section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

1. This direction applies to those government departments listed in appendix 2.

2. The department shall prepare a Trust Statement (‘the Statement’) for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 for the revenue and other income, as directed by the Treasury, collected by the department as an agent for others, in compliance with the accounting principles and disclosure requirements of the edition of Government Financial Reporting Manual (‘FReM’) 2022-23.

3. The Statement shall be prepared, as prescribed in Appendix 1, so as to give a true and fair view of (a) the state of affairs relating to the collection and allocation of taxes, licence fees, fines and penalties and other income by the department as agent and of the expenses incurred in the collection of those taxes, licence fees, fines and penalties insofar as they can properly be met from that revenue and other income; (b) the revenue and expenditure; and (c) the cash flows for the year then ended.

4. The Statement shall also be prepared so as to provide disclosure of any material expenditure or income that has not been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament or material transactions that have not conformed to the authorities which govern them.

5. When preparing the Statement, the department shall comply with the guidance given in the FReM (Chapter 11). The department shall also agree with HM Treasury the format of the Principal Accounting Officer’s Foreword to the Statement, and the supporting notes, and the accounting policies to be adopted, particularly in relation to revenue recognition. Regard shall also be given to all relevant accounting and disclosure requirements in Managing Public Money and other guidance issued by HM Treasury, and to the principles underlying International Financial Reporting Standards.

6. Compliance with the requirements of the FReM will, in all but exceptional circumstances, be necessary for the accounts to give a true and fair view. If, in these exceptional circumstances, compliance with the requirements of the FReM is inconsistent with the requirement to give a true and fair view, the requirements of the FReM should be departed from only to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view. In such cases, informed and unbiased judgement should be used to devise an appropriate alternative treatment which should be consistent with both the economic characteristics of the circumstances concerned and the spirit of the FReM. Any material departure from the FReM should be discussed in the first instance with HM Treasury.

7. The Statement shall be transmitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for the purpose of his examination and report by a date agreed with the Comptroller and Auditor General and HM Treasury to enable compliance with the administrative deadline for laying the audited accounts before Parliament.

8. The Trust Statement, together with this direction (but with the exception of the related appendices) and the Report produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General under section 2 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 shall be laid before Parliament at the same time as the department’s Resource Accounts for the year unless the Treasury have agreed that the Trust Statement may be laid at a later date.

Michael Sunderland
Deputy Director, Government Financial Reporting
His Majesty’s Treasury

15 December 2022

Appendix 1 to annex D


Trust Statement for the year ended 31 March 2023.

1. The Trust Statement shall include:

  • a Foreword by the Principal Accounting Officer
  • a Statement of the Principal Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities
  • a Governance Statement
  • a Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure
  • a Statement of Financial Position
  • a Cash Flow Statement
  • such notes as may be necessary to present a true and fair view

2. The Notes shall include among other items:

  • the accounting policies, including the policy for revenue recognition and estimation techniques and forecasting techniques together with statements explaining any significant uncertainty surrounding estimates and forecasts
  • a breakdown of material items within the accounts
  • any assets, including intangible assets and contingent liabilities
  • summaries of losses, write-offs and remissions
  • post balance sheet events
  • any other notes agreed with HM Treasury and the National Audit Office.

Appendix 2 to annex D


Sponsoring department: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Income stream Responsible entity
EU Emissions Allowance BEIS
UK Emissions Allowance BEIS
Fines and Penalties BEIS
CRC allowances BEIS
Climate Change Agreements BEIS
Energy Saving Opportunity Schemes BEIS

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