§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the expenditure of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service is subject to examination by the Exchequer and Audit Department; and if the service's estimates are approved by any Government Department.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe accounts of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service are not subject to examination by the Exchequer and Audit Department but are examined by auditors appointed by the service, subject to the approval of the Department of Commerce, under article 24 of the Electricity Supply (NI) Order 1972.
The principal statutory controls on the finances of the electricity service are found in article 7 of the 1972 order, which requires the approval of the Department of Commerce to be given to the service's programme of major capital works, article 18, which requires the service to obtain the consent of the Department of Commerce and the approval of the Department of Finance before undertaking any borrowings, and article 26, which requires the service to consult the Department of Commerce and the Department of Finance before fixing its tariffs. In addition to these statutory controls, the service regularly discusses its financial forecasts with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Finance.