§ Mr. Peter ReesI beg to move amendment No. 81, in page 88, line 21, at end insert—
'(1A) If an entry is deleted from a company's register of interests in shares in contravention of subsection (1) above the company shall restore that entry to the register as soon as is reasonably practicable.'.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 82 and 83.
§ Mr. ReesAs the House will know, clause 73(1) enables a company in certain circumstances to remove an entry from its register of interests in shares. Clause 74(2) makes it an offence for a company to remove an entry except in certain specified circumstances. As drafted, the offence created by clause 74 is a continuing offence, but the removal of an entry is, of its nature, a single act which cannot be continued. It was felt, therefore, that this was rather unreasonable, and therefore it is to limit the operation of the offence that these amendments are set down. I hope that the House will accept them on that basis.
Amendment agreed to.
Amendments made: No. 82, in page 88, line 22, after '(1)', insert 'or (1A)'.
No. 83, in page 88, line 25, after 'contravention', insert 'of subsection (1A)'.—[Mr. Peter Rees.]