§ Mr. Wakehamasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current backlog of applications to register a business name at the Registrar of Business Names ; how many applications are being received each week by the Registrar and how many are being processed each week ; and whether he has any plans to bring forward legislation to amend the Registration of Business Names Act 1916, with particular reference to the registration fee.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis:About 3,200 applications to register a business name are received weekly. During recent months they have been processed at the rate of 4,400 a week. As a result, the backlog has been eliminated and, apart from the exceptional case, registration is effected within five working days of receipt.
It is the Government's intention to introduce a Companies Bill during the present Session that will include provisions to enable fees charged for the registration of business name particulars and for searches of the register to be increased sufficiently to make the organisation self-financing.