§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when her Department's report on audit failures at Wickes will be published. [31198]
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsThe Department does not comment in detail on the affairs of individual companies before proceedings have been concluded. However, this matter was referred to the Accountants' Joint Disciplinary Scheme on 4 March 1997 for investigation of the former auditors and chartered accountants employed within the company. The investigation is expected to be completed during the course of 1998. The Executive Counsel to the Joint Disciplinary Scheme will then decide whether to lay complaints for hearing by a Joint Disciplinary Tribunal. It is the usual practice of the Joint Disciplinary Scheme to issue a Press Notice when complaints have been laid; and the Reports of Joint Disciplinary Tribunals are published. Where, however, the Executive Counsel decides not to lay complaints, the Executive Committee has a discretion whether to publish the Executive Counsel's Report.