Clause 15
Company Law Reform Bill [Lords]
11:15 am
Jonathan Djanogly (Shadow Solicitor General (Also Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry), Law Officers (Assist the Home Affairs Team); Huntingdon, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 6, in clause 15, page 6, line 37, leave out subsection (3).
I shall be brief. Why is it necessary for the certificate to be signed by the registrar? On the back of the previous debate, the Minister might say that it is for security purposes. However, proof is publication on the Companies House register. In practice, companies often lose their certificates, it is difficult to get replacements and there is a cost involved in doing so. What is the Minister’s view?
On a slightly wider issue, will the certificate be in the same paper format as now, or will there be a possibility of issuing it online?
It is a practical point, because at present a same-day incorporation requires a trip to Companies House, with all the hurdles that that entails, whereas it would be quicker to do it online. Harking back to the previous debate, I am aware that there are security implications, and I shall be grateful if the Minister will advise us on how they might be addressed.