asked the Prime Minister pursuant to her answer of 18 January, Official Report, c. 110, how many staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General are qualified to audit a company under the provisons of the Companies Acts.

Of the 66 staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General who are qualified as members of accountancy bodies, 14 staff are members of bodies of accountants recognised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 161 of the Companies Act 1948.