State account errors “unacceptable”

The 2017 state accounts presented to Parliament in November are riddled with errors and omissions. This is unacceptable and it must not be repeated, says the Parliamentary Finance Committee, which together with the National Audit Office has completed its scrutiny of the 2017 state accounts.

Some of the recurring problems have been addressed, but there are still significant errors, especially concerning appropriation procedures and delayed decisions by the transport minister regarding road and tunnel authority Landsverk.

The National Audit Office says that key appropriation procedures are not being taken seriously, citing a few examples: Fróðskaparsetrið (The University of the Faroe Islands) budgeted DKK 1 million in the 2018 financial year for property rent in 2017.

SEE ALSO Deficiencies in state accounts

Umhvørvisstovan (The Environment Agency) booked expenses for a green energy campaign without any products or services to show for it. This is a fundamental breach of the Appropriation Act and the Accounting Act, according to the auditors.

Landsverk’s long-term rental deals are proving costlier than purchase deals. Since 2012 it has been unclear whether unused grants to the Research Foundation should be returned to the Treasury.

Such deficiencies are unacceptable, according to the Finance Committee and the National Audit Office, who are now calling on the Prime Minister to make sure this will not happen again.

Translated by prosa.fo