Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 October 2002. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Monday, 28 October 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether Andersen Accountants were chosen as prospective advisers on the restructuring of BNFL prior to the company's role in the collapse of Enron becoming known.

Answer: Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Andersen Accountants were chosen as prospective advisers on the restructuring of BNFL prior to the company's role in the collapse of Enron becoming known. [75456] Ms Hewitt: Arthur Andersen were chosen in November 1999 as jointly appointed Reporting Accountant to the Department and BNFL in relation to the potential introduction of a public-private partnership for BNFL. This appointment ended in December 2001. Deloitte and Touche acted as accountancy adviser to the Department on BNFL from March 2000. Following a competitive tender the Department decided in July 2002 to reappoint Deloitte and Touche as its accountancy adviser on BNFL and the proposed Liabilities Management Authority. In August 2002 Deloitte and Touche completed its transaction with Andersen UK under which partners and staff of Andersen UK joined Deloitte and Touche.

Secondary information