MG Rover is expected to file its accounts for the crucial year before its crash in the next few days.

The development came as it emerged the wives and part-ners of the so-called Phoenix Four are to be examined as part of the Government's investigation into the carmaker's demise.

Phoenix Venture Holdings (PVH), the parent company of MG Rover, has missed the January 31 deadline to hand over its accounts for 2004 to Companies House.

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PVH had originally planned to release the accounts within ten months of its financial year end - last October - but received a dispensation to delay it for three months.

The accounts relate to the critical period before the company's position became untenable and as talks with its would-be Chinese partner Shanghai Automotive ran into difficulties.

Companies House confirmed yesterday no accounts or requests for further extensions had been lodged.

A spokesman for PVH said: "There are some minor outstanding issues which could be solved in the next few days."

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry investigators are reportedly demanding details of the financial and legal affairs of the directors' wives.

The DTi investigators, led by Guy Newey QC and Gervase MacGregor of the forensic accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, are believed to be carrying out an investigation of the directors' financial affairs and the flow of money through the business, including possible off-shore accounts.

The PVH spokesman would not comment, but an industry source disputed whether the investigation had stretched to the wives and partners.

The source said: "The wives were not officers of the company and as such they would have to get permission to begin this."

The DTi report, which is thought to be costing about £500,000 a month, is expected to be completed by the summer.

Labour MP Richard Burden (Lab Northfield), whose constituency includes Longbridge, voiced concerns about the delays to the inquiry and accounts.

He said: "I see no reason why the accounts are taking this long.

"I hope that PVH and their financial advisers recognise that people need to have the whole picture, sooner or later."