§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place the consultants' report on the Companies House agency in the Library; whether he is reviewing the need for other directorships of the board member to be disclosed; and when he expects to announce the future shape of Companies House organisation.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonThe future of Companies House remains under consideration. It would not be appropriate to publish the consultants' advice in advance of the Government's decision.
Information about other directorships held by company directors will continue to be available to searchers at Companies House. Technical developments however make it possible to drop the requirement for companies to supply such information on the annual return. This reform is one of the measures for which, subject to consultation, the Government intend to use the deregulation order-making power in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill once it is enacted.