Responsibilities of the directors

The directors are required to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group as at the end of the financial period and of the profit or loss and cash flows for that period. This includes, in respect of Rio Tinto plc, preparing financial statements in accordance with UK company law which give a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs, and preparing a Remuneration report which includes the information required by Part 3 of Schedule 7A to the UK Companies Act 1985 and Australian Accounting Standard AASB 124 "Related Party Disclosures". Details of the directors' responsibilities in respect of Rio Tinto Limited are set out in the summary of ASIC relief.

To ensure that these requirements are satisfied, the directors are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls, including disclosure controls and procedures for financial reporting throughout the Group.

The directors consider that the 2006 Annual report and financial statements present a true and fair view and have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards, using the most appropriate accounting policies for Rio Tinto's business and supported by reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates. The accounting policies have been consistently applied. The directors have received a written statement from the chief executive and the finance director to this effect. In accordance with ASX Principle 7.2, this written statement relies on a sound system of risk management and internal compliance and controls which implements the policies adopted by the board and confirms that the Group's risk management and internal compliance and control systems are operating efficiently and effectively in all material respects.

The directors, senior executives, senior financial managers and other members of staff who are required to exercise judgement in the course of the preparation of the financial statements are required to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty and in accordance with the ethical standards of their profession and/or business.

The directors are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, in accordance with the UK Companies Act 1985 and the Australian Corporations Act 2001. They have a general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. The directors are also responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to maintain and preserve the integrity of the Group's website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from current and future legislation in other jurisdictions. The work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of such developments and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes, should any be made, to the financial statements since they were initially available on the website.