§ Mr. Dennis TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 2000,Official Report, columns 557–58W, if he has concluded the Review of Companies House announced by the Minister for Competitiveness on 16 February. [140496]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonThe Review of Companies House has now been completed.
I was pleased to announce on 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 723–24W, that the first stage of the Review confirmed that Companies House was performing well both in meeting its own objectives and targets and in contributing to the achievement of wider Government objectives. Its standards of customer service are high and customers are generally satisfied with the service they get from Companies House.
Stage 2 of the Review, which considered whether any changes should be made to the way in which Companies House operates, has found that its framework is broadly right and its performance is generally effective. Companies House is well advanced in implementing the e-government strategy. The Review identified some aspects of the current framework which present obstacles to a fully effective response to the Modernising Government agenda.
Companies House is now building the findings of both stages of the Review into its Business and Development Plans. This will ensure that Companies House continues to modernise to improve the quality, range and flexibility of its services and responsiveness to customer needs and will lay the foundation for an even more successful next five years.
The report of stage 2 of the Review of Companies House has been placed in the Library.