asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that State companies are producing their annual reports as promptly as possible; if he agrees that these reports should contain the maximum amount of information possible; if he will request all State companies to publish simplified accounts for their employees, as a number now do; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Annual Reports of State Companies.
110.
Many State companies publish their annual reports within a reasonable length of time after the end of the financial year. A limited number of companies, however, have on occasion not published their annual reports as quickly as I would wish. State companies are expected to publish their reports as soon as possible after the end of the financial year, in line with best accounting practice. The reports are expected to contain as much relevant information as possible on the affairs of companies, subject to the need to ensure that commercially sensitive information is not disclosed. The publication by State companies of simplified accounts for their employees is a matter for the boards of individual State companies and I would expect this practice to become more widespread in the future.