Validation and verification.
This section of our report shows how Legal & General Group's performance is perceived by the outside world and our own internal audit process.
Our performance verified by others
During the year we also have our own sustainability performance ranked and questioned. Below are the latest reviews from these organizations.
Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index
This year, we achieved a gold level rating, reflecting a score greater than 90%. Feedback from the annual survey is available here:
Click here to download the BITC feedback
ClimateWise
Findings from their annual survey puts us 9th out of 37 companies in our sector, plus specific details of Legal & General's performance.
Click here to download the ClimateWise feedback
Click here to download the 2009 ClimateWise report
DowJones SAM Benchmarking report
Our performance benchmarked against global peers in the Dow Jones Sustainable Asset Management gave us a ranking of 74%, up from 69% 2008, resulting in a Silver Rating 2009
Click here to download the Dow Jones SAM Feedback
EIRIS report
A review of our 2009 performance and disclosures provided by EIRIS, a leading global provider in ESG research services shows that we do well in the areas of Board Practice and balance, Equal opportunities, Trades Union consultation, Environmental Strategy, Health and Safety, Training, Customer and supplier expectations and Community Involvement Strategy and approach.
Click here to download EIRIS' feedback.
Internal Audit Verification Statement
The following statement relating to the reporting on this microsite, and was produced by Legal & General Group's internal audit team.
Background
The Legal & General Corporate Social Responsibility Report includes sections on customer policies, our employees, the environment, our suppliers, community initiatives and socially responsible investment. Where relevant, we have also included details of how Legal & General America, Legal & General Netherlands and Legal & General France address these areas as well as selected data on our other overseas operations.
Group Internal Audit has provided independent verification of the Report as noted below:
Objectives
The objective of this verification is to express an opinion on:
- The reliability of the processes used by Legal & General to identify, collect and report data and supplementary information included within the Corporate Social Responsibility Report
- The accuracy of data included in the Report.
Summary of Procedures Performed
In contrast to financial reporting standards, statutory reporting and verification standards do not exist for the review of social and environmental performance. Group Internal Audit has, therefore, applied a methodology consistent with best audit practice in undertaking this verification procedure.
Our Review Comprised:
- Interviews with senior management within Legal & General and a review of the processes in place to report qualitative data
- Review and verification of data including reference to supporting documentation where appropriate. Reliance was placed on the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification of certain systems within Legal & General where appropriate
- Review of the final content of the Report to assess consistency with the overall findings of our work.
Opinion
On the basis of the work performed, we have reached the following opinion:
- Appropriate management systems have been put in place to capture and consolidate Corporate Social Responsibility performance information related to Legal & General's Groupwide activities; and
- Quantitative data is accurately stated within the Report and the rationale for using estimated figures is recorded where relevant.
John Adlam
Group Chief Internal Auditor
April 2010
Legal & General Group Plc
One Coleman Street
London EC2R 5AA
www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/csr
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