§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has taken steps to encourage companies to disclose non-financial and qualitative information.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe Companies Act 1985 requires companies to disclose a range of such information in the directors' report. The Government favour any disclosure of such information by companies which goes beyond the requirements of the Companies Acts when companies consider that this would be helpful.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will consider legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to explain the safety of their products;
(2) if he will consider legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to explain the steps taken to conserve energy;
540W(3) if he will introduce legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to detail the steps taken by the company to control pollution;
(4) whether he will consider legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to state the amount spent on employee training;
(5) whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to list steps taken to conserve energy;
(6) whether he will seek to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to explain the steps taken to enhance employment opportunities for women;
(7) if he will consider legislation to amend the Companies Acts to require the directors' reports of large companies to explain action which the company has taken to conserve Britain's natural resources.
§ Mr. RedwoodNo. It would be unreasonably burdensome to require all large companies to provide such information. Companies are best placed to decide, in the light of their individual circumstances, whether this information is likely to be of interest to their members and other users of their reports and accounts.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to amend the Companies Acts to give all employees of large companies a statutory right to receive a copy of the company's annual report and accounts.
§ Mr. RedwoodNo.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to amend the Companies Acts so as to require the directors of large companies to file details of any information which they pass to their brokers.
§ Mr. RedwoodNo.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to amend the Companies Acts to require directors' reports of large companies to explain the steps taken to safeguard and promote health and safety of their work force.
§ Mr. RedwoodMy right hon. Friend has no present plans to exercise his power to make regulations under paragraph 10 of schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1985.