CALCUTTA, June 23: The public accounts committee (PAC) of Parliament has asked the Tea Board and commerce ministry to furnish information pertaining to gaps in the audit for fiscal 1995-96. The committee has written to the commerce ministry pointing out certain inconsistencies relating to the lack of supporting documents and non-submission of certain assets for verification.

The Tea Board has stated that the details of assets which have to be registered will be done in next year's audit.

The committee has located considerable amounts and balances under suspense account which do not present a true and clear picture. It was noticed that advances paid to the Board for miscellaneous expenditure were booked under suspense accounts.

The Board contended that as the nature of expenditure could not be foreseen it was a difficult task to give a breakup of the total expenditure.

The committee has observed that the records relating to reconciliation of bank balances operated by the Board's officials other than those in Calcutta were not shown. The Tea Board has 16 offices including five abroad. There were certain differences lying unreconciled for years altogether.

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