18BReports about recoverable payments

18B Reports about recoverable payments

(1) During the applicable publication period for a reporting period, the Secretary of the Department must cause to be published, in such manner as the Secretary thinks fit, a report that sets out: (a) the number of payments made under subsection 18A(1) during the reporting period; and (b) the total amount of those payments. (2) However, a report is not required if the number mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) is zero. Deferred reporting (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not require a report to deal with a payment unless, before the preparation of the report, a Departmental official was aware the payment was made under subsection 18A(1). (4) For the purposes of this section, if: (a) a payment was made under subsection 18A(1) in a reporting period; and (b) because of subsection (3) of this section, subsection (1) of this section did not require a report to deal with the payment; and (c) during a later reporting period, a Departmental official becomes aware that the payment was made under subsection 18A(1); the payment is subject to a deferred reporting obligation in relation to the later reporting period. (5) If one or more payments made under subsection 18A(1) during a reporting period are subject to a deferred reporting obligation in relation to a later reporting period, the Secretary of the Department must, during the applicable publication period for the later reporting period: (a) prepare a report that sets out: (i) the number of those payments; and (ii) the total amount of those payments; and (iii) the reporting period during which the payments were made; and (b) if a report is required under subsection (1) in relation to the later reporting period—include the paragraph (a) report in the subsection (1) report; and (c) if paragraph (b) does not apply—publish, in such manner as the Secretary thinks fit, the paragraph (a) report. Reporting period (6) For the purposes of this section, a reporting period is: (a) a financial year; or (b) if a shorter recurring period is specified in a legislative instrument made by the Minister—that period. Applicable publication period (7) For the purposes of this section, the applicable publication period for a reporting period is the period of: (a) 4 months; or (b) if a lesser number of months is specified, in relation to the reporting period, in a legislative instrument made by the Minister—that number of months; beginning immediately after the end of the reporting period. Departmental official (8) For the purposes of this section, Departmental official means an official (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013) of the Department.