UK: FRC prohibits direct assistance by internal audit staff on the external audit team

The Financial Reporting Council has decided to prohibit external auditors from using internal audit staff as 'direct assistance' members of the audit team: see here. The prohibition comes into effect for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after 15 June 2014. The prohibition is introduced by way of amendments to International Standard on Auditing (UK and Ireland) 315 and International Standard on Auditing (UK and Ireland) 610, revised editions of which are available here (pdf) and here (pdf).