HC Deb 11 February 1981 vol 998 cc331-3W
Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a decision has been taken on the application made by a number of members of the Anglia Building Society under section 63 of the Building Societies Act 1962 for access to the register of members of that society; and if he will print the formal decision letter in the Official Report.

Mr. Lawson

Following a hearing of the application on 3 February 1981 a direction was made under section 63 of the Building Societies Act 1962 giving the applicant members access to the register of the Anglia Building Society.

The direction was in the following terms:

DIRECTION UNDER SECTION 63(2) OF THE BUILDING SOCIETIES ACT 1962

It is directed that the following persons:

  • Mr. P. H. Twyman
  • Mr. C. R. Madsen
  • Mr. S. M. T. Atherton
  • Mr. J. M. Girkin
  • Mr. B. B. Marshall
  • Mrs. G. M. Twyman
  • Mr. W. K. Lucas
  • Mrs. H. F. Stevens
(here called "the applicants") shall have the right to obtain, from the register of the Anglia Building Society, the names and addresses of the members of the society for the purpose of communicating with them on the following subjects (being subjects relating to the affairs of the society):
  1. 1. The composition of the Board of Directors of the society and the candidature for the Board of Mr. P. H. Twyman.
  2. 2. The rules of the society.
  3. 3. The policies of the present Board of Directors, in so far as they relate to the subjects mentioned at 1 and 2 above.

In accordance with section 63(3) of the Act, this direction is subject to the following limitations or conditions:

  1. (a) The period during which the applicants may have access to the society's register, and may make any communication to the other members of the society by virtue of this direction, shall be limited to a period of 12 months from the date of this direction.
  2. (b) The applicants may not disclose to any other person the names and addresses obtained by virtue of this direction.
  3. (c) The applicants may not make any communication by virtue of this direction unless it is a written communication.
  4. (d) The applicants may not make any communication by virtue of this direction except on the following conditions:
    1. (i) Not less than 14 days before any such communication is proposed to be made, the applicants shall send a draft of it to the society,
    2. (ii) The society shall have the right to refer to the Chief Registrar any objections to the draft communication on the grounds that:
      • the whole or part of the draft communication falls outside the subjects mentioned at paragraphs 1–3 above; or
      • any statement in the draft communication contains, or is likely to be construed as containing, a misrepresentation as to fact.
    3. (iii) If within the period of 14 days mentioned at (i) above the society has given notice to any of the applicants that it intends to exercise the right mentioned at (ii) above, then:
      • no communication shall be made by virtue of this direction until the matter has been determined by the Chief Registrar; and
      • If the Chief Registrar finds the objections to be modified in any way he considers will meet the objections.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the annual visits to building societies mentioned in the report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies' annual report for 1979 have included visits to the Anglia Building Society; and, if so, what subjects were discussed.

Mr. Lawson

The Anglia Building Society has not yet been visited by an official of the Registry of Friendly Societies under the programme of visits to which the hon. Member refers. I should point out that in any case the discussions which take place in the course of these visits are treated as confidential to the registry and the individual societies concerned. I am satisfied that it is not in the public interest that the content of particular discussions should be disclosed; but if, in any particular case, it is subsequently necessary for action under the Building Societies Act 1962 to be taken against the society the action will be published in accordance with the provisions of that Act.