My Lords, from what we have read in the Sunday papers, this is a timely topic for debate and reporting on a long line of corporate failures, going back to Polly Peck, BCCI, Barings, Northern Rock, RBS, Carillion, BHS and, doubtless, many more. Throughout that time the audit market for major companies has been dominated by a few private sector accounting firms—now reduced to four. There is an urgent need to address the quality and effectiveness of audit. I presume that the Government support the proposals for a new profession of corporate auditors. What discussions have taken place with the profession itself on those proposals?

My Lords, from what we have read in the Sunday papers, this is a timely topic for debate and reporting on a long line of corporate failures, going back to Polly Peck, BCCI, Barings, Northern Rock, RBS, Carillion, BHS and, doubtless, many more. Throughout that time the audit market for major companies has been dominated by a few private sector accounting firms—now reduced to four. There is an urgent need to address the quality and effectiveness of audit. I presume that the Government support the proposals for a new profession of corporate auditors. What discussions have taken place with the profession itself on those proposals?

Draft Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010. Draft National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010. Draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010. Draft Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local Government Bodies. Draft Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local NHS Bodies. Lords motions to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010. Draft National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010. Draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010. Draft Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local Government Bodies. Draft Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local NHS Bodies. Lords motions to approve....

Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local Government Bodies. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local NHS Bodies. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room. Moved By

Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local Government Bodies. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local NHS Bodies. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room. Moved By

Draft SI on special health authorities (audit) (SI 2006/960). Lords debate on motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft SI on special health authorities (audit) (SI 2006/960). Lords debate on motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft SI on Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 (audit exemption) (amendment). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on community benefit societies (restriction on use of assets).

Draft SI on Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 (audit exemption) (amendment). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on community benefit societies (restriction on use of assets).

Draft SI on community benefit societies (restriction on use of assets) (SI 2006/264) Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 (audit exemption) (amendment) (SI 2006/265).

Draft SI on community benefit societies (restriction on use of assets) (SI 2006/264) Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 (audit exemption) (amendment) (SI 2006/265).

Draft SI on Companies Act 1989 (delegation) (SI 2005/2337). Lords debate on motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room).

Draft SI on Companies Act 1989 (delegation) (SI 2005/2337). Lords debate on motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Grand Committee off the floor of the House (Moses room).