HL Deb 19 June 1980 vol 410 c1308WA
Earl GREY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (1) Why, although the syllabus of the Association of Cost and Executive Accountants is very similar to that of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants, membership of the association is not a sufficient qualification for company secretaries; and
  2. (2) What action the association should take to ensure that membership of the association becomes a sufficient qualification.

Lord TREFGARNE

Under Section 79 of the Companies Act 1980, which has not yet been brought into operation, membership of one of the bodies mentioned in subsection (2) will not be a sufficient qualification for appointment as secretary of a public company: directors of public companies will also be under a statutory duty to take all reasonable steps to secure that company secretaries appear to have the requisite knowledge and experience to discharge their functions. Persons eligible to act as company secretaries will not be confined to members of the bodies mentioned in subsection (2).