(1) This section applies where a person appointed as statutory auditor of a company was not an appropriate person for any part of the period during which the audit was conducted.
(2) The Secretary of State may direct the company concerned to retain an appropriate person -
(a) to conduct a second audit of the relevant accounts, or
(b) to review the first audit and to report (giving his reasons) whether a second audit is needed.
(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) a person is "appropriate" if he -
(a) is eligible for appointment as a statutory auditor or, if the person is an Auditor General, for appointment as statutory auditor of the company, and
(b) is not prohibited by section 1214(1) (independence requirement) from acting as statutory auditor of the company.
(4) The Secretary of State must send a copy of a direction under subsection (2) to the registrar of companies.
(5) The company is guilty of an offence if -
(a) it fails to comply with a direction under subsection (2)
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