The Bill is a more comprehensive version of the measure that was first presented to the Lords on 11 January this year. It is in three volumes rather than two and has 1,264 clauses instead of 885. It has broken many records along the way. One must be the 1,029...

The Bill is a more comprehensive version of the measure that was first presented to the Lords on 11 January this year. It is in three volumes rather than two and has 1,264 clauses instead of 885. It has broken many records along the way. One must be the 1,029...

I agree with the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) and have only one point to add. Since the middle of the last century there has been a tradition that as much of company law as possible should be on the face of the statute. That is not simply for...

I agree with the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) and have only one point to add. Since the middle of the last century there has been a tradition that as much of company law as possible should be on the face of the statute. That is not simply for...

Amendment No. 671A refers to a clause put into the Bill by the Government in this House, which was then—confusingly—opposed by the Government in the other place, with the agreement of the Opposition. The right thing has been done in the end. In brief, its purpose was to provide the...

Amendment No. 671A refers to a clause put into the Bill by the Government in this House, which was then—confusingly—opposed by the Government in the other place, with the agreement of the Opposition. The right thing has been done in the end. In brief, its purpose was to provide the...

As the Minister and the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) have said, Lords amendment No. 245A has a fairly long history. The original operating and financial review proposal included provisions referring to the supply chain in virtually the same words as those in the Government’s amendment. As people in...

As the Minister and the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) have said, Lords amendment No. 245A has a fairly long history. The original operating and financial review proposal included provisions referring to the supply chain in virtually the same words as those in the Government’s amendment. As people in...

My hon. Friend makes an important point, and the Minister may wish to clarify the matter. From what I can make out, having read Lords Hansard, Lord Sainsbury seems to have spoken about what a key relationship would not be, rather than what it would be, in relation to those...

My hon. Friend makes an important point, and the Minister may wish to clarify the matter. From what I can make out, having read Lords Hansard, Lord Sainsbury seems to have spoken about what a key relationship would not be, rather than what it would be, in relation to those...

I, too, welcome the concession. I am glad that, in the first discussion of the freedom of information legislation under the Companies Bill, we have come out in favour of widening that legislation, rather than of narrowing it—I fear that that might not be the case when the Department for...

I, too, welcome the concession. I am glad that, in the first discussion of the freedom of information legislation under the Companies Bill, we have come out in favour of widening that legislation, rather than of narrowing it—I fear that that might not be the case when the Department for...

The issue has come back to the House because the other place rejected Government amendments made in the Commons. We are certainly pleased that the Government are giving way on the issue. I congratulate Baroness Noakes and our noble Friends for persevering on the point. The amendments would relate the...

The issue has come back to the House because the other place rejected Government amendments made in the Commons. We are certainly pleased that the Government are giving way on the issue. I congratulate Baroness Noakes and our noble Friends for persevering on the point. The amendments would relate the...

I hope that the debate can be brief because the issues have been debated at length in both Houses over a long period of time. As I explained when the amendment was tabled in this House, the original wording was not about companies providing lists of suppliers or customers or...

I hope that the debate can be brief because the issues have been debated at length in both Houses over a long period of time. As I explained when the amendment was tabled in this House, the original wording was not about companies providing lists of suppliers or customers or...

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment.

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment.

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment.

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment.

With the leave of the House, I accept that we all wanted to bring as much as possible within the compass of the Bill. However, we were persuaded by the Committee’s arguments. I do not know precisely when we shall consult, but there will be consultation with stakeholders at an...

With the leave of the House, I accept that we all wanted to bring as much as possible within the compass of the Bill. However, we were persuaded by the Committee’s arguments. I do not know precisely when we shall consult, but there will be consultation with stakeholders at an...

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment. The House will remember that the Bill as it was originally introduced in the other place contained a proposal for a general company law reform power. That proposal was dropped as a result of concerns about the...

I beg to move, That this House does not insist on its amendment. The House will remember that the Bill as it was originally introduced in the other place contained a proposal for a general company law reform power. That proposal was dropped as a result of concerns about the...

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I will not say much, because we have discussed this issue endlessly. I will merely say that we did not accept the Conservative amendment in the House of Lords because by replacing ““and”” with ““or”” we would effectively be saying that...

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I will not say much, because we have discussed this issue endlessly. I will merely say that we did not accept the Conservative amendment in the House of Lords because by replacing ““and”” with ““or”” we would effectively be saying that...

For those of us who are less informed on this matter than my hon. Friend, how can a key relationship be defined for the purpose of the Bill?

For those of us who are less informed on this matter than my hon. Friend, how can a key relationship be defined for the purpose of the Bill?

To prevent a ping-pong and to provide the House with an earlier night, we accept the amendments that have ponged and pinged between us and the House of Lords. I ask the House to accept the motion.

To prevent a ping-pong and to provide the House with an earlier night, we accept the amendments that have ponged and pinged between us and the House of Lords. I ask the House to accept the motion.

Companies Bill (HL). Programme motion (No 4) for proceedings on Lords message and any subsequent stages agreed to on question (formal). Lords Reasons for insisting on certain of their amendments to which the Commons have disagreed, considered. Commons amendment 245 not insisted on and Lords amendments in lieu thereof agreed to. Commons amendments 671, 954 and 957 not insisted on.

Companies Bill (HL). Programme motion (No 4) for proceedings on Lords message and any subsequent stages agreed to on question (formal). Lords Reasons for insisting on certain of their amendments to which the Commons have disagreed, considered. Commons amendment 245 not insisted on and Lords amendments in lieu thereof agreed...

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 624 to 631. These new clauses restate Part 15 of the 1985 Act in so far as these provisions apply in relation to Part 22 of this Bill. Part 22 enables public...

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 624 to 631. These new clauses restate Part 15 of the 1985 Act in so far as these provisions apply in relation to Part 22 of this Bill. Part 22 enables public...

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 213 to 227. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 213 to 227. Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons amendments be now considered. Moved, That the Commons amendments be now considered.—(Lord Sainsbury of Turville.)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons amendments be now considered. Moved, That the Commons amendments be now considered.—(Lord Sainsbury of Turville.)

My Lords, I am happy to give the assurance that the Government are on the case. The co-ordination is important, and I reiterate that the changes will enable us to effect the simplification early next year. That is our intention. On Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, I am happy to give the assurance that the Government are on the case. The co-ordination is important, and I reiterate that the changes will enable us to effect the simplification early next year. That is our intention. On Question, Motion agreed to.