HC Deb 23 May 1991 vol 191 cc626-8W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the president of any of the accountancy bodies applying for the recognised supervisory body status is directly elected by its membership.

Mr. Redwood

I understand that the presidents of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland are directly elected by the membership.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, as a condition of recognition as a recognised supervisory body, he will make it his policy to require the applicants annually to state the number of their council members who are not directly elected by the membership;

(2) whether he will make it his policy as a condition of recognition to require the accountancy bodies seeking the status of a qualifying body to ensure that its students will be required to learn at least one other European language;

(3) whether he will make it his policy as a condition of recognition as a recognised supervisory body to require the applicants to annually publish the number of complaints which they receive against their members.

Mr. Redwood

Under the Companies Act 1989, the Secretary of State has no power to refuse recognition on these grounds.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library a copy of the investigative and disciplinary arrangements offered by the applicants for the recognised supervisory body status.

Mr. Redwood

A copy of each application, which includes details of the applicant's arrangements for the investigation and disciplining of its members, has already been placed in the Library (Official Report, 19 December 1990, col.187).

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to propose legislation under which the standards of accountancy firms criticised in the inspectors' reports would be independently investigated.

Mr. Redwood

Part II of the Companies Act 1989 will introduce an effective system for monitoring and investigating professional standards.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the council of any of the applicants for the proposed recognised supervisory bodies is not entirely elected by its membership.

Mr. Redwood

I understand that the councils of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants may have co-opted members, although the power to appoint them has not been exercised in every case. Most of their councils are elected. The council of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants is wholly elected by the membership.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of the accountancy bodies applying for the recognised supervisory body status encourage their members to give proxy votes for council elections to its president.

Mr. Redwood

So far as I am aware, none.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the deadline by which any member of the public may object to the granting of recognised supervisory body status to any of the applicants.

Mr. Redwood

The Department will consider representations made at any time. However, I asked that comments on the applications reach the Department by 15 May (Official Report, 18 April, column 222).