Companies Act 2006

Supervisory bodiesU.K.

1217Supervisory bodiesU.K.

(1)In this Part a “supervisory body” means a body established in the United Kingdom (whether a body corporate or an unincorporated association) which maintains and enforces rules as to—

(a)the eligibility of persons for appointment as a statutory auditor, and

(b)the conduct of statutory audit work,

which are binding on persons seeking appointment or acting as a statutory auditor F1. . . because they are members of that body F1. . . .

[F2(1A)The rules referred to in [F3paragraphs 9(1A) and 10C(3) (bar on appointment as director or other [F4officer),] paragraph 9(3)(b) (confidentiality of information)] [F5and paragraph 12(3)(b)(v) (temporary prohibition from exercising functions in a firm)] of Schedule 10 must also be binding on persons who—

(a)have sought appointment or acted as a statutory auditor, and

(b)have been members of the body at any time after the commencement of this Part.]

(2)In this Part references to the members of a supervisory body are to the persons who, whether or not members of the body, are subject to its rules in seeking appointment or acting as a statutory auditor.

(3)In this Part references to the rules of a supervisory body are to the rules (whether or not laid down by the body itself) which the body [F6or the competent authority] has power to enforce and which are relevant for the purposes of this Part.

This includes rules relating to the admission or expulsion of members of the body, so far as relevant for the purposes of this Part.

(4)Schedule 10 has effect with respect to the recognition of supervisory bodies for the purposes of this Part.

1218Exemption from liability for damagesU.K.

(1)No person within subsection (2) is to be liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of functions to which this subsection applies.

(2)The persons within this subsection are—

(a)any recognised supervisory body,

(b)any officer or employee of a recognised supervisory body, and

(c)any member of the governing body of a recognised supervisory body.

(3)Subsection (1) applies to the functions of a recognised supervisory body so far as relating to, or to matters arising out of, any of the following—

(a)rules, practices, powers and arrangements of the body to which the requirements of Part 2 of Schedule 10 apply;

(b)the obligations with which paragraph 20 of that Schedule requires the body to comply;

(c)any guidance issued by the body;

(d)the obligations imposed on the body by or by virtue of this Part [F7or by or by virtue of the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016;]

[F8(e)the obligations imposed on the body by or by virtue of the Audit Regulation.]

(4)The reference in subsection (3)(c) to guidance issued by a recognised supervisory body is a reference to any guidance or recommendation which is—

(a)issued or made by it to all or any class of its members or persons seeking to become members, and

(b)relevant for the purposes of this Part [F9, the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 or the Audit Regulation],

including any guidance or recommendation relating to the admission or expulsion of members of the body, so far as relevant for the purposes of this Part [F10, the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016 or the Audit Regulation].

(5)Subsection (1) does not apply—

(a)if the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith, or

(b)so as to prevent an award of damages in respect of the act or omission on the ground that it was unlawful as a result of section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (acts of public authorities incompatible with Convention rights).