HC Deb 30 April 1990 vol 171 cc413-4W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that independent audits in respect of(a) the finances and (b) the environmental commitment of electricity companies are made freely available to the public.

Mr. Baldry

All limited liability companies are obliged to have an independent audit of their accounts under the Companies Act 1985. The annual accounts of the companies must be submitted to Companies House where they are available for inspection. Schedule 9 to the Electricity Act 1989 requires licence holders to prepare and publish an environmental statement, after consultation with the Countryside Commission, Nature Conservancy Council and other statutory bodies. These documents, when finalised, should complement the guiding principles set out in the statement of environmental care prepared and publicised by the generators last year.