Barclays 2013 Annual Report Download - page 84

Directors’ report
Directors’ report continued
Going concern
The Group’s business activities and financial position, the factors likely
to affect its future development and performance, and its objectives
and policies in managing the financial risk to which it is exposed and its
capital are discussed in the Strategic Report and in the Risk Review and
Management section.
The Directors have assessed, in the light of current and anticipated
economic conditions, the Group’s ability to continue as a going
concern. The Directors confirm they are satisfied that the Company
and the Group have adequate resources to continue in business for the
foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the ‘going
concern’ basis for preparing accounts.
Disclosure of information to auditor
Each Director confirms that, so far as he/she is aware, there is no
relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are
unaware and that each Director has taken all the steps that he/she
ought to have taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware of any
relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors
are aware of that information. This confirmation is given pursuant to
section 418 of the Companies Act 2006 and should be interpreted in
accordance with and subject to these provisions.
Directors’ Responsibilities
The following statement, which should be read in conjunction with the
Auditors’ report set out on pages 271 to 275, is made with a view to
distinguishing for shareholders the respective responsibilities of the
Directors and of the auditors in relation to the accounts.
The Directors are required by the Companies Act 2006 to prepare
accounts for each financial year and, with regards to Group accounts,
in accordance with Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. The Directors have
prepared individual accounts in accordance with IFRS as adopted by
the EU. The accounts are required by law and IFRS to present fairly the
financial position of the Company and the Group and the performance
for that period. The Companies Act 2006 provides, in relation to such
accounts, that references to accounts giving a true and fair view are
references to fair presentation.
The Directors consider that, in preparing the accounts on pages 277
to 376, and the additional information contained on pages 142 to 235,
the Group has used appropriate accounting policies, supported by
reasonable judgements and estimates, and that all accounting
standards which they consider to be applicable have been followed.
Having taken all the matters considered by the Board and brought to
the attention of the Board during the year into account, and having
reviewed the annual report (including the strategic report), the
Directors are satisfied that the annual report and accounts, taken as a
whole, is fair, balanced and understandable, and provides the
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s
performance, strategy and business model.
Directors’ responsibility statement
The Directors (as referenced on pages 83 to 85) have responsibility for
ensuring that the Company and the Group keep accounting records
which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the
Company and the Group and which enable them to ensure that the
accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the
Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation
and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in
other jurisdictions.
The Directors have general responsibility for taking such steps as are
reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to
prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:
(a) The financial statements, prepared in accordance with the
applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of
the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of Barclays
PLC and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a
whole; and
(b) The management report, which is incorporated into the Directors’
Report on pages 78 to 82, includes a fair review of the development
and performance of the business and the position of Barclays PLC
and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a
whole, together with a description of the principal risks and
uncertainties that they face.
By order of the Board
Lawrence Dickinson
Company Secretary
3 March 2014
Barclays PLC
Registered in England, Company No. 48839
barclays.com/annualreport
82 Barclays PLC Annual Report 2013