§ Mr. Fordasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies are now registered; what is the total number of quoted companies registered; and if he will give the number of all companies more than two years in arrears in filing their accounts with the Companies Office.
§ Sir G. HoweLatest published details of companies on the register are given in "Companies in 1972" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Corresponding figures for 31st December 1973 are not yet available but the effective number on the register at that date is estimated at about 550,000.
Quoted companies are not recognised as such by the Companies Acts but are understood to number approximately 4,500.
The provisions of the Companies Act 1948 relating to the filing of accounts are such that it is not possible to identify companies more than two years in arrears.
The new Companies Bill contains provisions designed to remedy the position.