Prospective
1219Appropriate qualificationsU.K.
(1)A person holds an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Chapter if and only if—
(a)he holds a recognised professional qualification obtained in the United Kingdom,
(b)immediately before the commencement of this Chapter, he—
(i)held an appropriate qualification for the purposes of Part 2 of the Companies Act 1989 (c. 40) (eligibility for appointment as company auditor) by virtue of section 31(1)(a) or (c) of that Act, or
(ii)was treated as holding an appropriate qualification for those purposes by virtue of section 31(2), (3) or (4) of that Act,
(c)immediately before the commencement of this Chapter, he—
(i)held an appropriate qualification for the purposes of Part III of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/593 (N.I. 5)) by virtue of Article 34(1)(a) or (c) of that Order, or
(ii)was treated as holding an appropriate qualification for those purposes by virtue of Article 34(2), (3) or (4) of that Order,
(d)he is within subsection (2),
(e)he has been authorised to practise the profession of statutory auditor pursuant to the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) (First General System) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/18) and has fulfilled any requirements imposed pursuant to regulation 6 of those Regulations, or
(f)subject to any direction under section 1221(5), he is regarded for the purposes of this Chapter as holding an approved overseas qualification.
(2)A person is within this subsection if—
(a)before 1st January 1990, he began a course of study or practical training leading to a professional qualification in accountancy offered by a body established in the United Kingdom,
(b)he obtained that qualification on or after 1st January 1990 and before 1st January 1996, and
(c)the Secretary of State approves his qualification as an appropriate qualification for the purposes of this Chapter.
(3)The Secretary of State may approve a qualification under subsection (2)(c) only if he is satisfied that, at the time the qualification was awarded, the body concerned had adequate arrangements to ensure that the qualification was awarded only to persons educated and trained to a standard equivalent to that required, at that time, in the case of a recognised professional qualification under Part 2 of the Companies Act 1989 (c. 40) (eligibility for appointment as company auditor).