§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all Acts of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information, stating under each Act what information has to be disclosed, how, by when and to whom.
§ Mr. MillanSection 11 of the Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Act 1965 empowers the Highlands and Islands Development Board by notice served on any person carrying on a business or undertaking in the Highlands and Islands to require him to furnish it with such information as may be specified in the notice. There is a right of appeal to the sheriff against the notice. Section 12 of the Act restricts disclosure of information by the board.
In terms of undertakings—which have the force of Statutory Instruments—under the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960, Messrs. David MacBrayne Ltd., Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. and the Orkney Islands Shipping Co. Ltd. are required to provide such information as the Secretary of State for Scotland may reasonably require from time to time about their services.
Under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 and the Gaming Act 1968, applicants for permits and licences, if a company, are required to give the names, addresses and functions of directors and secretary when publishing their applications in a newspaper.
There are several Acts relating to agriculture which require occupiers of 261W agricultural land, some of whom may be companies, to provide data on cropping, stocking, etc., mainly in connection with agricultural censuses and subsidy schemes; and similar provisions exist in fisheries legislation. Similarly, provisions requiring persons to provide inforimation to assessors and rating authorities apply to companies as well as individuals, but not to companies as such.