To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to persuade the Australian Government to amend their import duty/excise structure so as to put imported and locally produced spirits on an even footing.
Following representations by United Kingdom industry, the Government have, through the European Community, alerted the Australian Government to their concern at certain practices that discriminate against imported spirits, and have sought to secure their elimination. We are addressing this issue in the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations.
| Name of company | Dale of publication of report | Firm of accountants |
| Gilgate Holdings Ltd. and others | 8 September 1981 | Thornton Baker and Co. (now Grant Thornton) |
| Norwest Hoist Ltd. | 23 June 1982 | Price Waterhouse |
| Ramor Investments Ltd. | 23 March 1983 | Price Waterhouse |
| Milbury plc | 27 October 1988 | Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young) |
| Minet Holdings plc and WMD Underwriting Agencies | 29 August 1989 | Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young) |
| Alexander Howden Holdings Ltd. | 29 August 1989 | Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young) and Peat Marwick and Mitchell of Bermuda (now Peat Marwick McLintock) |
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any accountancy firms criticised by the joint disciplinary scheme act as auditors to public bodies sponsored by his Department.
| Name of company | Dale of report | Firm of accountants |
| Gilgate Holdings Ltd and others | 22 December 1982 | Thornton Baker (now Grant Thornton) |
| Orbit Holdings Ltd | 28 March 1983 | Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (Peat Marwick Mclintock) |
| Ramor Investments Ltd | 27 January 1986 | Price Waterhouse |