RBS 2004 Annual Report Download - page 137

section
02
135
Annual Report and Accounts 2004
Statement of directors’ responsibilities
Governance
Statement of directors’ responsibilities
United Kingdom company law requires the directors to prepare
accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view
of the state of affairs of the company and of the Group as at
the end of the financial year and of the profit or loss of the
Group for that year. In preparing those accounts, the directors
are required to:
•select suitable accounting policies and then apply them
consistently;
•make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and
prudent; and
•state whether applicable accounting standards have been
followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and
explained in the accounts.
The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting
records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time
the financial position of the Group and to enable them to
ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 1985.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the
company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable
steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
By order of the Board.
Miller McLean
Secretary
23 February 2005