§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the workings of section 356 of the Companies Act 1985 which requires firms to supply lists of names and addresses of their shareholders; if the Government will review the workings of the section; and if he will list the firms that have made representations to him about the section.
§ Mr. HowardI am aware that section 356 of the Companies Act 1985 has been used to obtain lists of shareholders in return for a nominal fee and that this has involved the companies concerned in expense and inconvenience. In a recent consultative document on the delivery of annual accounts and returns, the Department invited views by 22 December on this question. Some replies have already been received. Otherwise no representations by firms had been made to my Department this year. If the hon. Member has any suggestions, I shall be interested to study them.