S plc is a shipbuilder which is currently working on two contracts:

Deep sea

Small passenger

fishing boat

ferry

£000

£000

Contract price (fixed)

3000

5000

Date work commenced

1 October 2000

1 October 2001

Proportion of work completed during year ended

30%

Nil

30 September 2001

£000

£000

Invoiced to customer during year ended

900

Nil

30 September 2001

Cash received from customer during year ended

800

Nil

30 September 2001

Costs incurred during year ended 30 September 2001

650

Nil

Estimated cost to complete at 30 September 2001

1300

Proportion of work completed during year ended

25%

30%

30 September 2002

£000

£000

Invoiced to customer during year ended

750

2250

30 September 2002

Cash received from customer during year ended

700

2250

30 September 2002

Costs incurred during year ended 30 September 2002

580

1900

Estimated cost to complete at 30 September 2002

790

3400

S plc recognises turnover and profit on long term contracts in relation to the proportion of work completed.

Required

(a) Calculate the figures that will appear in S plc’s profit and loss account for the year ended 30 September 2002 and its balance sheet at that date in respect of each of these contracts.

The Accounting Standards Board’s Statement of Principles for Financial Reporting (SoP) effectively defines losses on individual transactions in such a way that they are associated with increases in liabilities or decreases in assets. Liabilities are defined as ‘obligations of an entity to transfer economic benefits as a result of past transactions or events’.

Required

(b) Explain how the definition of losses contained in the SoP could be used to justify the requirement of SSAP 9 – Stocks and Long term Contracts to recognise losses in full on long term contracts as soon as they can be foreseen.