§ Mr. GillanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how her Department proposes to name and publicise directors who are disqualified by the courts. [7779]
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§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Following the making of a disqualification order the court concerned must notify the Registrar of Companies so that the details can be entered of the Register of Disqualified Directors. My officials in Companies House and the Insolvency Service are considering what further information relating to disqualified directors could be made available and in what form. When a disqualification order is made a local press release is issued which gives the full names of the directors disqualified, the name, trading style and address of the company (or companies) which failed together with summary of the unfit conduct found by the court.
The Department also issues a quarterly press release to the main media outlets covering disqualification statistics and notable disqualification cases which occurred during the period. This release is also copied to number of accountancy, legal and business journals which follow up particular cases which interest them. I am concerned to ensure that the profile of this area of the Department's activities remains as high as possible and that the public generally are made more aware of the steps which are being taken to deal with directors who abuse the privilege of limited liability.