Companies (Reports and Accounts)

HC Deb 18 February 1980 vol 979 cc44-5W

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in how many instances during each of the last five years his Department has taken action against companies which have not filed their annual reports in Companies House in accordance with his requirements, particularly

ENGLAND AND WALES
	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Number of reminder letters				…	…	…	413,147	552,654	233,243	122,937	233,187
Prosecutions (number of offences):
Annual returns			…	…	…	…	2,635	4,483	2,589	2,245	1,933
Accounts		…	…	…	…	…	93	69	23	818	3,103
Fines	…	…	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	£72,465	£71,842	£132,570
Costs	…	…	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	£23,815	£28,980	£55,925

Following the implementation of the Companies Act 1976, the Department is in a position to place more emphasis on cases where accounts are outstanding.