Mr. Gary Martin:

A piece of string has a length. We are planning to bring forward the general scheme of the Bill towards the end of this year. It will include provisions such as the audit exemption. While the Department is supportive of introducing an audit exemption, the matter needs to be analysed further with stakeholders. We have conducted research on arrangements in other countries. What they have applied varies and it is not set out in EU law. Stakeholders have a different view, particularly as regards the safeguards which should be applied with an audit exemption and the specific criteria for the thresholds to be applied in terms of the numbers of members and employees, as well as turnover and balance sheet. That will have to be explored in further detail.