The board and its committees are supplied with full and timely information, including detailed financial information, to enable directors to discharge their responsibilities. All directors have access to the advice of the Company Secretary. Independent professional advice is also available to directors in appropriate circumstances, at the company’s expense, and the committees have been provided with sufficient resources to undertake their duties during the year to 31 March 2008. None of the directors sought independent external advice through the company. The Company Secretary is responsible for advising the board, through the Chairman, on matters of corporate governance.
Following the appointment of new directors to the board, tailored induction programmes are arranged which involve industry-specific training and include visits to the group’s businesses and meetings with senior management, as appropriate. New directors are briefed on internal controls at business unit level and are advised of the legal and other duties they have as directors of a listed company as well as on relevant company policies and governance-related matters. The company arranges for major shareholders to have the opportunity to meet new appointees. The company is also committed to the continuing development of directors in order that they may build on their expertise and develop an ever more detailed understanding of the business and the markets in which group companies operate. Members of board committees are encouraged to attend internal and external briefings and courses on aspects of their respective committee specialities and regular updates on relevant legal, regulatory, corporate governance and technical developments are presented to committee members and, as appropriate, to the board.