UK Government Investments Framework Document April 2016
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UK Government Investments Framework Document April 2016 Contents Introduction 1 Background 2 Purpose and objectives 3 Purpose 3 Objectives 3 Governance and accountability 4 Ministerial responsibility 4 Principal Accounting Officer 4 Responsibilities of UKGI’s chief executive as Accounting Officer 5 UKFI Accounting Officer 6 Corporate Governance 7 Shareholder relationship 7 Customer responsibilities 9 The UKGI Board 10 Board appointments 10 Board composition 10 Board responsibilities 11 Responsibilities of the Chair 13 Board members 13 Board Committees 14 UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI) 15 The Board’s Freedom to Act 15 Annual report and accounts 16 Internal audit 16 External Audit 17 Access to UKGI Group records and personnel 17 Management and financial responsibilities 18 Budget 18 Grant-in-aid and any ring-fenced grants 19 Risk management 19 Annual Report 2015-2016 i CARL - CURRENT HEADING 1 HEADING Providing Budget monitoring information 19 Delegated authorities 20 Business plan 20 Staff 22 Board responsibilities 22 Staff costs 22 Pay and conditions 23 Pensions, redundancy and compensation 23 End matters 24 Review of UKGI’s status 24 Appendix A – Delegated Authority 25 ii Annual Report 2015-2016 INTRODUCTION Introduction 1.1 This framework document (the “Framework Document”) has been drawn up by HM Treasury in consultation with UK Government Investments Limited (“UKGI”) (the “Company”) a private limited Government-owned company. 1.2 The Company has UK Financial Investments Limited (“UKFI”) and other subsidiaries as required. UKFI is governed by a separate framework document. 1.3 This document sets out the broad framework within which UKGI will operate. The document does not convey any legal powers or responsibilities. It is signed and dated by HM Treasury and UKGI. HM Treasury will place copies of the document in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and UKGI will make it available to members of the public on the gov.uk website. 1.4 This Framework Document should be interpreted in the light of the Company’s articles of association and English company law and is without prejudice to the statutory and other rights and obligations of HM Treasury or the Company. Annual Report 2015-2016 1 BACKGROUND Background 2.1 The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in May 2015 that the Shareholder Executive group from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills would form the basis of UK Government Investments Limited, a new Government company owned by HM Treasury. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced that UK Financial Investments Limited, a company owned by HM Treasury would become a subsidiary of the new company and the two would merge over time. 2.2 From 1 April 2016, the functions and operations of the Shareholder Executive, formerly a group within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, were transferred to the Company. 2.3 Furthermore, on 1 April 2016 HM Treasury’s entire shareholding in UK Financial Investments Limited (“UKFI”) was transferred to the Company. UKFI is now a wholly- owned subsidiary of the Company. Together both companies make up the UKGI group (the “Group”) along with any other subsidiaries as may exist from time to time. 2.4 UKFI’s relationship with UKGI and HM Treasury and the terms under which UKFI operates are detailed in the separate UKFI framework document agreed in April 2016, as amended, updated or replaced from time to time (the “UKFI Framework Document”). 2.5 UKGI has delegated advice to HM Treasury on UKFI matters, as set out in the UKFI Framework Document, to the UKFI board of directors (the “UKFI Board”) and will not be subject to further approval by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). 2.6 Where this Framework Document refers to the Company it does not, unless explicitly stated otherwise, include UKFI. 2.7 HM Treasury has secured the power to fund UKGI at clause 32 of the Enterprise Act 2016. 2 Annual Report 2015-2016 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Purpose and objectives Purpose 3.1 The Company’s overarching purpose is to be the UK Government’s centre of excellence in corporate finance and corporate governance. Objectives 3.2 To realise this purpose, the Company will deliver, as agreed with HM Treasury, against the following objectives (“Objectives”) to: prepare and execute all significant corporate asset sales by the UK Government; advise on all major UK Government financial interventions into corporate structures; act as shareholder for those arm’s length bodies of the UK Government that are structured to allow a meaningful shareholder function and for other UK Government assets facing complex transformations (especially if governance is at the heart of a model change); and advise on major UK Government negotiations with corporates. 3.3 The Company must operate in a way that is consistent with the Government’s policy objectives, including, but not limited to, the promotion and preservation of orderly, competitive markets. Annual Report 2015-2016 3 GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY Governance and accountability Ministerial responsibility 4.1 The Chancellor of the Exchequer will account for the activities of the Group in Parliament. Responsibility may be delegated to another HM Treasury Minister. At the time of publication this is the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Principal Accounting Officer 4.2 The Principal Accounting Officer (“PAO”) of HM Treasury is accountable to Parliament for the issue of any grant-in-aid to UKGI. The PAO is also responsible for advising the responsible Minister on: an appropriate framework of objectives and targets for UKGI in the light of the department’s wider strategic aims and priorities; an appropriate budget for UKGI in the light of the department’s overall public expenditure priorities; and how well UKGI is achieving its strategic objectives and targets, and whether it is delivering value for money. 4.3 The PAO is also responsible for ensuring arrangements are in place in order to: monitor UKGI’s activities; address significant problems in UKGI, making such interventions as are judged necessary; periodically carry out an assessment of the risks both to the department and UKGI’s objectives and activities; inform UKGI of relevant Government policy in a timely manner; and bring concerns about the activities of UKGI to the Board, and, as appropriate, to the departmental board requiring explanations and assurances that appropriate action has been taken. 4.4 The Enterprise and Growth Unit in the department is the primary contact for the Company. It is the main source of advice to the responsible Minister on the discharge 4 Annual Report 2015-2016 GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY of his or her responsibilities in respect of UKGI. They also support the PAO on his or her responsibilities toward UKGI. 4.5 The PAO has designated the chief executive of UKGI as UKGI’s Accounting Officer. Responsibilities of UKGI’s chief executive as Accounting Officer 4.6 The chief executive, as Accounting Officer for the UKGI Group, is personally responsible for safeguarding the public funds for which he or she has charge; for ensuring propriety, regularity, value for money and feasibility in the handling of those public funds; and for the day-to-day operations and management of UKGI. In addition, he or she should ensure that UKGI as a whole is run on the basis of the standards, in terms of governance, decision-making and financial management that are set out in Box 3.1 of Managing Public Money. 4.7 As Accounting Officer, the chief executive has specific responsibilities to account to Parliament as covered by the Accounting Officer’s letter of appointment and as described in Managing Public Money. The accountabilities include: signing the accounts and ensuring that proper records are kept relating to the accounts and that the accounts are properly prepared and presented in accordance with any directions issued by the Treasury; preparing and signing a Governance Statement covering corporate governance, risk management and oversight of any local responsibilities, for inclusion in the annual report and accounts; ensuring that effective procedures for handling complaints about UKGI are established and made widely known within UKGI; acting in accordance with the terms of this document, Managing Public Money and other instructions and guidance issued from time to time by the Department, the Treasury and the Cabinet Office; giving evidence, normally with the PAO, when summoned before the PAC on UKGI’s stewardship of public funds. 4.8 Particular responsibilities to HM Treasury include: establishing, in agreement with the department, UKGI’s corporate and business plans in the light of the department’s wider strategic aims and agreed priorities; informing the department of progress in helping to achieve the department’s policy objectives and in demonstrating how resources are being used to achieve those objectives; and ensuring that timely forecasts and monitoring information on performance and finance are provided to the department; that the department is notified Annual Report 2015-2016 5 GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY promptly if over or under spends are likely and that corrective action is taken; and that any significant problems whether financial or otherwise, and whether detected by internal audit or by other means, are notified to the department in a timely fashion. 4.9 Unless agreed by HM Treasury, UKGI will follow the principles, rules, guidance and advice in Managing Public Money to the extent applicable, referring