§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the methods of depreciation 395W his Department will apply in the current financial year to fixed assets in the preparation of departmental resource accounting balance sheets. [96921]
§ Mr. IngramStraight line depreciation is the principal method which NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office intend to apply to fixed assets in the current financial year in the preparation of departmental resource accounting balance sheets. In addition the Department of the Environment (NI) also intend to apply the following methods—renewals accounting, reducing balance and accelerated depreciation. As part of the dry run audit, depreciation policies will be subject to review by the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
Use of these methods of depreciation is in accordance with the Department of Finance and Personnel's Northern Ireland Resource Accounting Manual, which follows private sector accounting practice as far as is appropriate. The requirements in the Manual, regarding depreciation policy, are underpinned by Financial Reporting Standard 15 "Tangible Fixed Assets" issued by the Accounting Standards Board.