§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in the charge for searches at the Companies Registration Office and as to why the request for a duplicate of the roll film of information received at the office each day as a cost-effective service to the public and to the Companies Registration Office was not accepted.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 7 June 1988]: The proposed increase in the fee for searches at the Companies Registration Officies is intended to ensure that the full cost of providing this service is met by those using it. The Registrar of Companies has been discussing with major users the possibility of supplying them with roll film copies of company documents and expects to write to them shortly about such a service.
§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many searches were undertaken by the Companies Registration Office during 1987 on behalf of Government and other public authorities listed as major users.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 7 June 1988]: No Government Department or other public authority is among the major users of search facilities at the Companies Registration Offices. In 1987, some 170,000 searches were carried out for the CROs' own working purposes and those of other parts of the Department of Trade and Industry. Searches for other Government Departments and other public authorities attract the normal search fee and are therefore not always separately identified, but total at least 70,000.