3 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The
financial statements
have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
The
financial statements
are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company.
Turnover
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and Value Added Tax. Turnover includes revenue earned from the rendering of intermediary services for professional consultancy. Turnover from intermediary services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs. Turnover is only recognised to the extent of recoverable expenses when the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably. Taxation
Taxation represents the sum of tax currently payable and deferred tax. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax is recognised on all timing differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.
Financial instruments
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the transaction price and are subsequently measured as follows: Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost and commitments to receive a loan and to make a loan to another entity are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Where investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary shares or preference shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.
All other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, which is normally the transaction price and are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately.
All equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets or either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.
Any reversals of impairment are recognised in profit or loss immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
The transactions denominated in foreign currency are translated into sterling and recorded at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Balances at the year end denominated in a foreign currency are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date