The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, having considered the Annual Report and the Report of the Auditor-General on the Disaster Relief Fund for the financial year ending 31 March 2002, reports as follows:

The Committee notes the qualified audit opinion expressed by the Auditor-General with concern.

The Committee also noted the issue raised under Emphasis of Matter where the accounting authority only submitted the financial statements on 25 September 2002 which had to be subsequently amended. The Committee expects the accounting authority to expeditiously rectify the issue in question. The Committee will await the Report of the Auditor-General on the follow-up audit work in this regard.

Having considered the Report of the Auditor-General and noted the qualified audit opinion expressed by the Auditor-General, the Committee is of the view that no further interaction with the accounting authority is necessary for the financial year under review.

The Committee therefore awaits the next Report of the Auditor-General.