§ Sir Irvine PatnickTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what definition he uses of harm to the public when deciding whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act 1985. [6682]
§ Mr. OppenheimNo definition of harm to the public is used when considering whether to make a direction under section 32 of the Companies Act. I assess each case on its merits, taking into account the circumstances.
When deciding such cases, I consider whether there are reasons for thinking, or evidence indicating, that the public would be likely to suffer harm as a result of the name. There must be evidence of harm or of the likelihood of harm; mere speculative harm would not be enough. I also take care to consider the likely impact of a direction on a company's business.