Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) 2009-10

The Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) is the technical accounting guide to the preparation of financial statements. It complements guidance on the handling of public funds published separately by the relevant authorities in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Manual is prepared following consultation with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB) and is issued by the relevant authorities. This is the first International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) based version of the Reporting Manual. The requirements of IFRS are outlined for the first-time user, as interpreted for the public sector context. FReM applies directly to funds, flows of income and expenditure and any other accounts that are prepared on an accruals basis and consolidated within Whole of Government Accounts. It does not apply to Local Government, those Public Corporations that are not Trading Funds, and NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts. The Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland will apply the principles outlines in this Manual in the accounting guidance that they issue in respect of Local Health Boards in Wales, and Health and Social Services Trusts in Northern Ireland. The Manual is kept under constant review. It is updated to reflect developments in international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and, where appropriate, comments received from users. The 2009-10 edition of FReM is supplied loose-leaf, within a binder. It includes Accounting Principles; Parliamentary Accountability; Accounting boundaries; Form and content of the annual report and accounts; Tangible non-current assets; and, Intangible non-current assets.