Company Law Reform Bill

moved Amendment No. 230:"Page 100, line 11, leave out paragraph (b)." The noble Lord said: Because Amendment No. 231 is grouped with this one and it raises a different point, it might be helpful if, having covered Amendment No. 230, I briefly cover Amendment No. 231. Clause 220(2) on,"““Permitted use or disclosure by the registrar””," states:"““The registrar may disclose a protected address . . . to a public authority specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State””." I am entirely content with that. I am concerned about Clause 220(2)(b), which states:"““to a credit reference agency””." Some noble Lords have had bitter experience of bogus credit reference agencies seeking personal details, addresses and information about directors with nothing to do with company activities. I would have thought that the registrar should be content with disclosing to a credit reference agency the service address, and in due course a response can be made if it is a legitimate inquiry concerning the credit standing or otherwise of the individual. I look forward to the Minister’s response to this group of amendments. I beg to move.