§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps have been taken by the Companies Registry to implement the Welsh Language Act; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will make a statement on the refusal of the Companies Register to accept Welsh as an official language in matters of company registration.
§ Mr. NobleMy right hon. Friend has not exercised his powers under Section 2 of the Welsh Language Act, 1967, to prescribe Welsh versions of documents used for the purposes of the Companies Acts, 1948 to 1967. However, the Registrar of Companies will accept Welsh versions of memoranda and articles of association for filing provded that they are accompanied by a certified English translation.
§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have been refused registration on the grounds that they wished to have the full title of their company in Welsh.
§ Mr. NobleNone. However the name of the company, if limited, must end in the word "limited", as required by Section 2(1)(a) of the Companies Act, 1948.
§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many companies based in Wales have been refused registration because they wished to state that their registered office was in fact based in Wales and were ordered to state that the registered office was based in England;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to enable Welsh companies to be able to state that their registered office is situated in Wales.
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§ Mr. NobleThe Registrar of Companies will accept for registration a memorandum which states that the registered office of a company is to be situated in England, in England or Wales or in Wales.