§ 15. Mr. Shepherdasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the fee for business names registration covers the costs of administration.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir. The fees leviable under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, do not cover the 1200 cost of its administration. The provisions and working of the Act are, however, currently under review by the Company Law Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Jenkins, and this has to be taken into account in considering the future level of fees.
§ Mr. ShepherdWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the charge has not been raised for this long period and that there surely cannot be any justification for conducting the Department at a loss to the taxpayer?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think there is a strong argument here, but I should like to see what the Jenkins Committee has to say about the importance of the whole system.