§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the accountancy firm which reported on the water privatisation prospectus has at any time since January 1979 been(a) criticised by the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors in any of the reports and (b) criticised by the disciplinary committee of the accountancy profession as lacking in professional conduct efficiency or competence; and whether either of these two points are mentioned in the prospectus.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 30 November 1989]: One of the firms which reported on the water privatisation prospectus had been previously criticised in inspectors' reports published since 1979 and subsequently by the accountancy profession's joint disciplinary scheme. I understand that the cases related to audits conducted in the period 1972–75; the partners involved were not members of any of the reporting engagement teams for 333W water privatisation. The Government and their advisers are satisfied that this is not material as far as the prospectus is concerned.