Part 16Audit
Chapter 3Functions of auditor
Duties and rights of auditors
499Auditor’s general right to information
1
An auditor of a company—
a
has a right of access at all times to the company’s books, accounts and vouchers (in whatever form they are held), and
b
may require any of the following persons to provide him with such information or explanations as he thinks necessary for the performance of his duties as auditor.
2
Those persons are—
a
any officer or employee of the company;
b
any person holding or accountable for any of the company’s books, accounts or vouchers;
c
any subsidiary undertaking of the company which is a body corporate incorporated in the United Kingdom;
d
any officer, employee or auditor of any such subsidiary undertaking or any person holding or accountable for any books, accounts or vouchers of any such subsidiary undertaking;
e
any person who fell within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) at a time to which the information or explanations required by the auditor relates or relate.
3
A statement made by a person in response to a requirement under this section may not be used in evidence against him in criminal proceedings except proceedings for an offence under section 501.
4
Nothing in this section compels a person to disclose information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege (in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications) could be maintained in legal proceedings.