§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to the treatment in the accounts of companies of off-balance sheet finance and window dressing.
§ Mr. HowardIn December, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales published a technical release dealing with the accounting issues raised by off-balance-sheet finance and window-dressing, I support the approach taken by the institute, and indeed my Department's support is recorded in the technical release.