§ 3.18 p.m.
§ LORD CROOKMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, with a view to the reduction of opportunities of fraudulent company promotion, they propose to take action so as to introduce a minimum limit of age in respect of appointment of Directors under the Companies Act.]
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, the question of directors' qualifications is one of the matters which Her Majesty's Government have under consideration in their study of the Report of the Company Law 1064 Committee which was presented last June, and the particular matter to which the noble Lord invites attention will be borne in mind in that connection.
§ LORD CROOKMy Lords, may I ask whether the Minister is aware that at Bristol Assizes last week Mr. Justice McKenna, in sentencing a man to one year's imprisonment, drew attention to the fact that the five directors of the company concerned were a man, his wife and three children, the youngest of whom was eight years of age?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am aware of the case at Bristol. The Companies Act makes no provision as to the minimum age of a director, and a minor may, therefore, be appointed a director. But, as I said, this particular matter is one which will be borne in mind when the Report of the Committee is examined.