Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mike Ashley was a serving member of the Accounting Standards Board when he acted as an expert witness to defend PwC against the Financial Reporting Council’s action in respect of PwC’s audit of Mayflower plc; and if so, (1) what assessment was made of whether this constituted a conflict of interest, and (2) whether he offered to resign from the Board.

Mike Ashley was a serving member of the UK Accounting Standards Board, which was a Board of the FRC, when he acted as an expert witness on behalf of PwC during the Tribunal between the Accountancy Investigation and Discipline Board and PwC. The judgement for this case is available on the FRC’s website (and a copy is attached to this response). The Government does not hold information relating to the procedures of the UK Accounting Standards Board which was a Board of the FRC and ceased operating in 2012.