Clause 112
Company Law Reform Bill [Lords]
3:30 pm
Margaret Hodge (Minister of State (Industry and the Regions), Department of Trade and Industry; Barking, Labour)
On the last point, I asked the same question in preparation for various clauses in the Bill. I was told that while it was obsolete, we could not guarantee that there was none still around. We have to carry on with the provisions until we are certain that it has all disappeared from the face of the Earth. I know, it is one of those awful things. On the first point, I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are not proceeding with the proposal to which he alluded.
I will speak generally to amendment No. 23, which I think is similar to one that was tabled in another place. One way in which members of a company may wish to protect themselves against attempts to harass or defraud them is by giving the company a service, rather than a home, address. That is already possible. However, on Third Reading in the other place, when a number of amendments were made to part 8, which deals with company members, specific provision—clause 793—was inserted to draw attention to the point. As hon. Members know, clause 793 provides that
“Any obligation under the Companies Acts to give a person’s address is, unless otherwise expressly provided, to give a service address for that person.”
We recognise the importance of those matters, but we doubt that the addition of a second provision for the avoidance of doubt would serve any useful purpose. I hope on that basis, the hon. Member will withdraw his amendment.