asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review, with a view to amendments, the law relating to the duties of accountants and take steps to encourage the standardisation of accounting practice.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, in association with the Scottish and Irish Institutes, are working to improve and standardise accounting practices in accordance with the Statement of Intent on Accounting Standards in the 1970's issued by the Council of the English Institute in December, 1969. It is not yet possible to say whether this work will show that amendments to the law are desirable.