The statement of AO’s responsibilities in the Department’s ARA outlines the Accounting Officer’s responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the finances allocated to them.36 This is reinforced through HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money 28 BEIS Annual Report & Accounts 2020–21 (parliament.uk) p6 29 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) 30 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) 31 Q 113 32 Q 117 33 Q 118 34 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) ...

The statement of AO’s responsibilities in the Department’s ARA outlines the Accounting Officer’s responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the finances allocated to them.36 This is reinforced through HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money 28 BEIS Annual Report & Accounts 2020–21 (parliament.uk) p6 29 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) 30 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) 31 Q 113 32 Q 117 33 Q 118 34 The Bounce Back Loan Scheme: an update (nao.org.uk) 35 BEIS, ARA 2021–22, pages 44, 246, 260 36 BEIS, ARA 2021–22, page 67 14 Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Annual Report and Account Type: conclusion | Number: 18 | Response status: accepted Government response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 Public bodies have a pivotal role in the delivery of departmental policy objectives. DBT has 19 bodies in its more immediate delivery chain which carry out a wide range of fu