HC Deb 06 February 1984 vol 53 c422W
Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many annual returns for companies are overdue at present.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

On 23 January 1984, approximately 358,000 companies were in default of their obligation to deliver annual returns to the appropriate registrar; a number of such companies have been in default for several years and it is estimated that the total number of outstanding returns is at least 750,000.

Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is taken against the directors of companies whose annual returns are overdue.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Where the default has been the subject of a public complaint and the reminder letters fail to secure compliance, the directors may be prosecuted. Reminders are sent on a programmed basis to the directors of companies which are in default; 260,000 such reminders were issued in 1983.

Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are engaged in maintaining the files containing company annual returns at Companies house.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

On 23 January 1,030 staff were employed in the companies registration offices in Great Britain.

Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are engaged in dealing with companies whose annual returns are overdue.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Sixty eight staff are engaged in dealing with companies in default; a further 12 are employed in the preparation of cases for prosecution.