SFPA - Annual Report and Accounts 1998-1999

annual accounts 1998 - 1999

Foreword to the Accounts

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with a direction given by the Treasury in pursuance of section 5(1) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. The direction is reproduced as an Annex to the Accounts.

1.History and Statutory Background

Britain's sea fisheries have been protected and controlled by authority

of Parliament for nearly 200 years. In the early years of the 19th Century the "Commissioners of the British White Herring Fishery" were appointed.

In 1882 responsibility for protecting sea fisheries in waters around Scotland was given to the Fishery Board for Scotland. The Board's responsibilities also included land-based inspection. In 1939 the functions of the Fishery Board were transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

In April 1991, as part of the Government's Next Steps Initiative, the Secretary of State for Scotland established the fisheries protection and enforcement services as an executive agency within The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department. The Agency is headed by a Chief Executive accountable to the Secretary of State for Scotland until July 1999. The Secretary of State for Scotland provided funding under Class XIII, Vote 1 for 1998-99.

2.Principal Activities

The principal activities of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency are to:

2.1 pursue and implement an effective strategy for fisheries enforcement

2.2 deter illegal fishing by UK and foreign vessels by air and sea surveillance

2.3 detect breaches of fisheries regulations by monitoring and inspection at sea and in ports and report as appropriate to the prosecuting authorities

2.4 provide intelligence on fishing activities and information and advice in support of fisheries policy

2.5 deliver and manage its inspection and protection services economically, efficiently and effectively.

3. Financial Review

The Agency introduced a new fixed asset system on 1 April 1998. With the requirement to produce full resource accounts from 1998-99 onwards, the Agency now accounts for stock as well as implementing a number of other changes to follow new guidance as laid down in the Resource Accounting Manual. The Agency has contracted out its internal audit service and the successful tenderer,

Scott-Moncrieff Downie Wilson, has now completed the fourth year of an extended 5 year programme. The Agency was successful in managing its resources so as to deliver its enforcement services within the approved 1998-99 running cost and capital allocations.

4. Post Balance Sheet Events

There were no important events requiring adjustment to/disclosure in the financial statements occurring after the year-end.

5.Future Developments

The Agency has a strategic five year plan which was agreed by Ministers earlier in the year and also produces an annual business plan. The Agency's principal challenge will be to continue to deliver the service required and to meet the targeted levels of output within available resources. The Agency has embarked on a number of internal reviews aimed at providing improved support services to

front-line staff and increased value for money.

6.Research and Development

It is the Agency's policy to keep abreast of all industrial innovation, new products and information technology in the areas of its operations. In recent years, assistance from the Agency in the development and testing of some specialised equipment has enabled British companies to market associated products more effectively world-wide.

7. Significant Changes in Fixed Assets

No significant additions or disposals took place during the year.

8.Payment to Suppliers

The Agency is committed to the CBI Prompt Payment Code for the payment of bills for goods and services received. Payments are normally made as specified in the agreed contract conditions. Where there is no contractual provision, or other understanding, they are due to be paid within 30 days of either receipt of the goods or services, or presentation of a valid invoice or similar demand, whichever is later. For the 1998-99 financial year, all payments were examined and 98.7% were found to have been paid on time.

9.Senior Management Board

The Chief Executive is responsible for the day-to-day operation and performance of the Agency.

During 1998-99 the Agency's Senior Management Board members were:-

Mr P E Du Vivier - Chief Executive
Mr J B Roddin - Director of Corporate Strategy and Resources
Capt A Brown - Marine Superintendent
Mr R J Walker - Director of Operations

10.Recruitment Policy Statement

In accordance with the principles of the Civil Service Commissioner's Recruitment Code and the provisions of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995, the Agency has systems in place to ensure that recruitment is carried out on the basis of fair and open competition and selection on merit. These are subject to internal audit.

11. Disabled Employees

The Agency is an equal opportunity employer and takes full cognisance of the Civil Service Code of Practice on the employment of people with disabilities. Disablement is not regarded as a bar to recruitment, training or advancement, which is based entirely on the ability to do the job.

12. Ethnic Minorities in the Senior Civil Service

The Agency is committed to racial equality in employment and has signed the 'Charter for Action to Redress Under-Representation' of ethnic minorities in the Senior Civil Service.

13. Recruitment Statistics

During 1998 - 1999, the Agency did not make use of permitted exceptions to recruitment principles. The total number of staff recruited during 1998 - 1999 is as set out in the following table:

14. Consultation with and Provision of Information to Employees

14.1 The Senior Management Board actively encourages widespread consultation and the exchange of information at all levels of the organisation.

14.2 All staff are encouraged to use their own initiative to develop and enhance the services provided by the Agency.

14.3 A Whitley Council structure is established for formal communications between managers and trade union representatives on issues of importance to particular groups of staff.

14.4 The Agency communicates to staff through a series of senior management meetings, staff conferences, the issue of an Agency newsletter and a series of internal staff notices. Staff also have access to the Agency's Corporate Plan, Operating Plan and Annual Report.

15. Millennium Compliance

Year 2000 work within The Scottish Office and its Agencies continues and is making satisfactory progress.

The Agency continues to work towards ensuring that its own computer systems and ships' electronics are Year 2000 compliant. This is being undertaken within current resources and with the use of Scottish Office central funds. Expenditure on the Agency's Year 2000 work to date covered new hardware and software for the ships and amounted to about £40,000. Further expenditure will be necessary in the coming year to cover consultancy costs for the validation of the Fisheries Information Network software. This is estimated to cost £50,000.

16. Audit

The accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General whose Certificate and Report appears on pages 50 and 51.

P E DU VIVIER
Chief Executive
8 July 1999