To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received (a) on the open marketing of off-balance sheet financing schemes and (b) calling for the curbing of such schemes; and from where.

I replied to questions from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) about off-balance sheet finance in April, but have not received any subsequent representations. The extension of the definition of a subsidiary undertaking in the Companies Act 1989 will bring on to the balance sheet a number of schemes which would previously have been off-balance sheet. The issue of off-balance sheet finance is also being addressed by the Accounting Standards Committee, which published an exposure draft in May entitled "Reflecting the substance of transactions in assets and liabilities".

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the different treatment of (a) research and (b) development expenditure in company accounts.

The issue of disclosure of research and development expenditure was discussed during the passage of the Companies Bill last year. I am not aware of any representations since then on the treatment of such expenditure in company accounts.