§ 47. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of cases which have been reported to him or known by his Department where companies and their directors have been in any way in contravention of the Companies Acts; and what action he has taken in each instance to enforce the law, in accordance with his duties under statute.
§ Mr. NobleInformation about applications to the Department and prosecutions under certain sections of the Companies Acts is contained in Department's 237W annual report under the Companies Act. A very large number of cases of default in respect of annual returns and reports is dealt with without prosecution by seeking compliance. The complete information requested could not be compiled without undue expenditure of staff resources.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many prosecutions were instituted by his Department in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 as a result of false statements being made in company returns filed at the Companies Registry;
(2) in how many cases of false statements of which he was aware, being made in company returns filed at the Companies Registry, his Department did not take action in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. NobleI assume that the hon. Member is referring to breaches of Sections 33 and 34 of the Companies Act, 1967. Since these provisions were introduced, only five complaints of noncompliance have been received. No prosecutions have been instituted, but two cases are still under consideration.