§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the implementation of the Companies Act 1976.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisApart from Section 33 (Contents of prospectuses) which was brought into operation on 24th January, it is the intention of my right hon. Friend to bring the following provisions of the Act into operation on the dates indicated below:
- Sections 1 to 11 (Duty to prepare, lay and deliver accounts by reference to accounting reference periods):
- 1st October 1977 (apart from Sections 2(1) and 10(1) and (2), which will be brought into operation on 1st March 1977).
- Section 12 (Accounting records):
- 1st October 1977.
- Sections 13 to 20 (Auditors):
- 18th April 1977.
- Sections 21 to 23 (Returns as to directors and registered office):
- 18th April 1977.
- Sections 24 to 27 (Notification of interests in shares):
- 18th April 1977.
- Sections 28 and 29 (Disqualification Orders):
- 1st June 1977.
- Sections 30 to 32 (Welsh and Oversea Companies):
- 18th April 1977.
- Sections 34 to 37 (Forms, fees etc.):
- 18th April 1977.
- Section 38 (Part), 39 and 41 (Functions of Registrar, criminal proceedings, unregistered companies):
- 18th April 1977.
259 - Sections 42 and 43 (Amendments, repeals, expenses):
- As necessary.
Commencement orders and orders prescribing forms and other matters will be made and published at the appropriate times. There is already in force a number of prescribed forms orders made under the Companies Acts; when the present Act has been implemented. I propose to review all the forms in use with a view to re-enacting them in one consolidating measure, thus easing the burden on all those who use the forms. In prescribing the forms for use, under this Act, and in the subsequent review, I shall seek the views of the Companies Registration Office Users' Group.
Yorkshire Of which West Yorkshire Number of grants Amount paid £ Number of grants Amount paid £ Hotel development incentives scheme (Note 2)— 1973–74 23 934,262 Not available (Note 3) 1974–75 19 75,107 2 28,503 1975–76 6 28,140 4 22,097 1976–77 (to December 1976) 4 37,362 1 2,218 Assistance to tourism projects (available only in development areas)— 1973–74 10 72,396 Not applicable (Note 4) 1974–75 15 48,057 Not applicable (Note 4) 1975–76 24 208,719 Not applicable (Note 4) 1976–77 (to December 1976) 40 211,789 Not applicable (Note 4) Notes:
The figures relate to the county boundaries existing in the years in question.
Applications for assistance under the hotel development scheme had to be received by the Board before 1st April 1973.
West Yorkshire did not exist as a separate county in 1973–74; and figures for this year could only be obtained at disproportionate effort.
West Yorkshire is not within a development area.