HC Deb 24 February 1938 vol 332 cc596-7
The Solicitor-General

I beg to move, in page 31, line 33, at the beginning, to insert: and also regulations providing that any statutory declaration which a person is required by this Act to make shall be deemed to be properly made if it is made on his behalf by any such person as may be specified in the regulations. The effect of this Amendment will be to enable the Board of Trade to prescribe the class of persons from whom a statutory declaration shall be required. The Bill requires statutory declarations in several connections—for example, in the case of any application under the reciprocity provisions; in respect of information desired by the Board of Trade in relation to registration; as an essential preliminary to the registration of a film in regard to the blind booking provisions, and the verification of renters' and exhibitors' annual returns. It is important in regard to each case that the Board of Trade should be able to make certain by regulation that the declaration was made by a person of responsibility.

Mr. Bellenger

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman give us any examples of the kind of people who would sign on behalf of their principals, and in that event would a principle be held responsible for the signature of such a person?

The Solicitor-General

The process really is to prevent something that might otherwise happen. The object is to see that a document is not signed by the office boy or by the junior clerk. Normally it would be by somebody such as the managing director. We desire to have the power, by regulation, to be able to prevent somebody of no responsibility signing documents of this kind.

Mr. Bellenger

Then I take it that the principal in that case would be bound by the act of the servant who signed the declaration on his behalf?

The Solicitor-General

I think so. The person would be an agent for the principal in this case, and the regulations would provide that the person who was to sign would be sufficiently responsible to bind the principal.

Mr. McEntee

In the case of a company, I take it that it would be under the signature of the company?

Amendment agreed to.