To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in his consideration of qualifying body status for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1989, he will require that its students will be made aware of his Department's inspectors' criticisms of auditing firms.

No. The Company Auditors (Examinations) Regulations 1990, which came into force on 20 June, set out the subjects which a qualifying body must test by examination if its qualification is to be recognised under the Companies Act 1989. Although inspectors' reports are not specified as such, the Secretary of State will wish to satisfy himself that the examinations are a proper test of the subject matter, and reflect current best practice, as indicated in inspectors' reports or otherwise.