Company Annual Accounts (Hansard, 21 May 1996)

§ Mr. Oppenheim

[holding answers 14 May 1996]: The registrar and chief executive of Companies House executive agency has delegated authority to deal with such matters on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The registrar has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

Letter from John S. Holden to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 21 May 1996: The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions regarding the number of special provisions granted to companies to postpone filing their annual accounts beyond the penalty date and in what circumstances, and the provisions made for extension of the filing of annual accounts by Firlands Training of Aylesbury. Information on the number of extensions granted each year appear in the Department's Annual Report to Parliament. For your convenience, the numbers are as follows:

1993/94: 4,910
1994/95: 6,610
1995/96: 6,708

Extensions to the time allowed for delivering accounts are granted by Companies House on a discretionary basis on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. They are granted in exceptional circumstances where there are "special reasons" that are unforeseen by the company and which are beyond the control of its officers. There is no comprehensive or prescribed list of acceptable reasons, since each case is considered on its merits. With regard to the matter of Firlands Training Limited, it is not our policy to disclose to third parties the reasons for individual discretionary decisions. These are matters between the Department and the company concerned. However, I can confirm that as my officials have been satisfied as to the existence of "special circumstances", this company has been granted an extension of 3 months to the period allowed for delivering its 30 April 1995 accounts. The accounts are now due to be delivered no later than 31 May 1996; the company's public record has been noted accordingly.