Internal Control

The Board of Directors has responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control. This involves an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks faced by the Group and reviewing the effectiveness of the resultant system of internal control that has been in place throughout the year and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report and Accounts.

The Board has delegated to management the planning and implementation of the systems of internal control throughout the Group. The system of internal control is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss and accords with the guidance in Internal Control: Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code (Turnbull October 2005).

The key elements of the system include:

• The Board, in conjunction with management, identifies the major risks faced by the Group and determines the appropriate course of action to manage these risks;
• Risk assessment and evaluation is an integral part of the management process throughout the Group. Risks are identified, evaluated and appropriate risk management strategies implemented;
• The Board maintains control and direction over appropriate strategic, financial, organisational and compliance issues, and has put in place an organisational structure with defined lines of responsibility and authority; and
• Capital expenditures are controlled centrally and, if in excess of predefined levels, are subject to approval by the Board.