To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which accountancy bodies have applied under the Companies Act 1989 for recognition as a supervisory body.

The following bodies have applied for recognition:

(i) The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales,

(ii) The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland,

(iii) The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland,

(iv) The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants,

(v) The Association of Authorised Public Accountants.

The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants has also applied for recognition of its professional qualification. As I announced in my reply of 30 October, at column 435, the Institutes of Chartered Accountants have already applied for recognition of their professional qualification.I have placed a copy of each application in the Library of the House. Certain material submitted in confidence has been excluded from the copy placed in the Library.