Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. He said that it was ineffective, but I think that that is a matter of drafting. The amendments may be incorrectly drafted in that they do not affect the companies’ obligations. It is perfectly plausible to draft them differently so that if the auditors believed that their name should not be included, the company would have to accept that judgment. That is a drafting point rather than a point of substance. The point of substance is whether it is necessary and whether you can rely on using the options of resignation or refusal to sign an audit report. I will take this away and consider it with the Institute of Chartered Accountants between now and Report to see whether it is content with the Minister’s explanation. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 317BD not moved.]