Frequently Asked Questions - Electronic Reporting
This is a selection of the most frequently asked questions along with answers. The contents will be updated on an ongoing basis.
Electronic Reporting : If
you require any further assistance on this subject please contact Leslie Lambert or Emily Fields.
Q. How does electronic reporting to the Bank work?
A. The individual forms need to be output into a predefined ASCII file. This is then compressed and then encrypted. The encrypted file is then e-mailed to a dedicated e-mail address and the sender will receive a receipt from the Bank. All of these processes are explained in the BEERS technical specification.
Q. Could I just e-mail an Excel version of the forms?
A. No. Only files in the BEERS format can be e-mailed to the dedicated e-mail address. We cannot accept Excel files as your forms must be signed on the front page by an authorised official of your reporting institution. The digital signature from the encryption process supplies the signature for files sent in the BEERS format.
Q. How do I get an electronic reporting code?
A. Please email mfsd_electronic_queries@bankofengland.co.uk and ask for an electronic reporting code. You will need to provide the name of your reporting institution.
Q. Is it possible to use our own encryption software to send data electronically?
A. No. You need to use Public 5.0.
Q. How much is the encryption software and where can I obtain this?
A. Files are encrypted using software called PUBLIC which is available from Sophos Plc. The charge is £895 (plus VAT) for each licence and this is a one off payment (ie there is no annual fee). Contact details for Sophos can be found on page 145 of the BEERS technical specification.
Q. I have the encryption software, what do I generate my username/key as?
A. Key generation is explained in the “Generating keys” section of the PUBLIC User manual (this manual comes with the software). The key must be given a name, this is BANKxxxx, where xxxx is the unique four digit electronic reporting code allocated by the Bank.
Q. How do I obtain the BOE and/or BBA public key?
A. Please email
mfsd_electronic_queries@bankofengland.co.uk and ask for the relevant key. You will need to provide the name of your reporting institution and your unique four digit electronic reporting code.
Q. I have the Bank of England public key, what do I need to do this with this?
A. The loading of keys is explained in the “Importing Keys” section of the PUBLIC User manual.
Q. I have created a test file, how can I check that this is correct?
A. Please e-mail test files to mfsd_ebeers_test@bankofengland.co.uk. Automatic receipts are not sent from this e-mail address so we will contact you by e-mail with the results of your test. Please use a valid reporting date for the form and please note that this must not be a date in the future. If you are sending test data for more than one reporting institution, please do not send these in the same e-mail.
Q. I am changing the e-mail address that I send BEERS files from, do I need to inform the Bank of this?
A. Yes as we maintain a list of e-mail addresses who are allowed to send us files in the BEERS format. Please e-mail your new e-mail address to mfsd_electronic_queries@bankofengland.co.uk.
Q. How do I become a recognised as software supplier who can provide electronic reporting?
A. You need to successfully test the format and validations for all the current statistical forms. Along with this, you need to agree to ensure that all your customers receive timely updates for any form and/or validation changes and that your customers can send the correct version of a form for each reporting date.
