Barclays 2004 Annual Report Download - page 22

Barclays has an extensive community programme covering many
countries around the world. The Group provides funding and support
to over 6,500 charities and voluntary organisations, ranging from
small, local charities like Coyote Theatre in Teesside, UK to
international organisations like Sightsavers International. We also have
a very successful employee programme which in 2004 saw more than
25,000 employees and pensioners worldwide taking part in Barclays-
supported volunteering and fundraising activities. Further information
on our community involvement is given on pages 12 and 13.
Political Donations
No political donations were made during the year. At the AGM in 2002
shareholders gave a four-year authority for Barclays Bank PLC and a
number of other subsidiaries to make political donations and incur
political expenditure up to a maximum aggregate sum of £250,000
per annum as a precautionary measure in light of the wide definitions
in The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
These authorities have not been used and it is not proposed that the
Group’s long-standing policy of not making contributions to any
political party be changed.
Employee Involvement
Barclays is committed to ensuring that employees share in the success
of the Company. Staff are encouraged to participate in share option
and share purchase schemes and have a substantial sum invested in
Barclays shares.
Employees are kept informed of matters of concern to them in a
variety of ways, including the corporate news magazine, the intranet,
briefings and mobile phone SMS messaging.
Barclays is also committed to providing employees with opportunities
to share their views and provide feedback on issues which are
important to them. An annual Employee Opinion Survey is undertaken
with results being reported to the Board HR and Remuneration
Committee, and roadshows and employee forums take place.
In addition, Barclays undertakes regular and formal Group, business unit
and project specific consultations with Amicus, our recognised union.
Equality and Diversity
Barclays is committed to giving full and fair consideration to
applications for employment from people with disabilities and to
continuing the employment of staff who become disabled and
arranging any appropriate training to achieve this.
Barclays respects and values people from all backgrounds and is
committed to becoming a more inclusive organisation with a
workforce that reflects the markets we serve.
The Barclays Equality and Diversity programme covers employee,
customer, supplier and community activities, wherever appropriate.
Health and Safety
Barclays is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of its
employees and, as far as is reasonably practicable, to providing and
maintaining safe working conditions. This commitment goes beyond just
fulfilling its statutory legal obligations; the Bank has a wish to be proactive
in its management of health and safety in the workplace, and recognises
that this will strengthen both its physical and human resources.
It is also recognised that in addition to its employees, Barclays has
responsibilities towards all persons on its premises, such as customers,
contractors, visitors and members of the public, and will ensure, as far
as is reasonably practicable, that they are not exposed to risks to their
health and safety.
The Board HR and Remuneration Committee will receive regular reports
on Health and Safety from the Human Resources Director.
Creditors’ Payment Policy
Barclays policy follows the DTI’s Better Payment Practice Code, copies
of which can be obtained from the Better Payment Practice Group’s
website at www.payontime.co.uk. The Code states that a company
should have a clear, consistent policy, adhered to by the finance and
purchasing departments, that payment terms are agreed at the outset
and payment procedures explained to suppliers, that bills are settled in
accordance with payment terms agreed with suppliers, that complaints
are dealt with quickly and that suppliers are advised of disputes.
Barclays values its suppliers and acknowledges the importance of
paying invoices, especially those of small businesses, promptly.
Normal policy is to pay all small business purchases within 30 days.
Paragraph 12(3) of Schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1985 requires
disclosure of trade creditor payment days. Disclosure is required by the
Company, rather than the Group. The Group’s principal trading subsidiary
in the UK is Barclays Bank PLC, the accounts for which are prepared
under Schedule 9 of the Companies Act 1985. The components for
the trade creditor calculation are not easily identified in Schedule 9.
However, by identifying as closely as possible the components required
by the Schedule, the trade creditor payment days for Barclays Bank
PLC for 2004 were 34 days (2003: 40 days). This is an arithmetical
calculation and does not necessarily reflect our practice, which is
described above, nor the experience of any individual creditor.
The Auditors
The Board Audit Committee approves and reviews the appointment
of the external auditors, as well as their relationship with the Group,
including monitoring the Group’s use of the auditors for non-audit
services and the balance of audit and non-audit fees paid to the auditors.
More details on this can be found on pages 23 and 24 and Note 5 to
the accounts. Having reviewed the independence and effectiveness of
the external auditors, the Committee has recommended to the Board
that the existing auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, be
reappointed. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have signified their
willingness to continue in office and ordinary resolutions reappointing
them as auditors and authorising the Directors to set their
remuneration will be proposed at the 2005 AGM.
The Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on
Thursday 28th April 2005. The Notice of Meeting is included in a
separate document sent to shareholders with this report.
By order of the Board
Lawrence Dickinson
Company Secretary
10th March 2005
Directors’ report
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