HL Deb 27 October 1981 vol 424 c999

102 Clause 50, page 57, line 4, leave out from ("section") to ("shall") in line 5 and insert ("without having reasonable grounds for the opinion expressed in that declaration").

Lord Lyell

My Lords, this amendment revives the drafting of the first part of paragraph (8) of Clause 50. As drafted at the moment it is an offence for a director to make a declaration knowing it to be false or misleading, or without reasonable cause to believe in its truth. Since the main provision of the statutory declaration concerns expressions of opinion by the directors, to refer to the declaration as being "false" and to the "truth" of the declaration is singularly inappropriate. The amendment will provide that there is a criminal sanction for making a statutory declaration without having reasonable grounds for expressing that particular opinion. I beg to move.

Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(Lord Lyell.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

9.12 p.m.