HC Deb 23 June 1972 vol 839 cc213-4W
Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will instruct the Registrar of Companies to review his policy in accepting for registration as companies, or for other commercial purposes, names such as that supplied to him by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, Langstone which cannot easily be distinguished from officially registered charities.

Mr. Noble

I have not yet received the hon. Member's letter. The powers to refuse registration of company and business names are exercised only where there is obvious danger of the public being misled, and the word "charity"is therefore normally prohibited in a registered business name and is not allowed in a company name save where the organisation is a recognised charity. To carry the scrutiny further, to exclude names which might in some circumstances be thought to be open to misrepresentation, would not be possible.