Company Law Bill [HL]

Clause 600 concerns the register of interests disclosed. Like the register of debenture holders, this register may be kept available for inspection either at the company’s registered office or at the place where the company’s register of members is kept. The company has a choice over the location because it may wish to use one of the commercial registrars of companies to maintain these registers. However, just as in the case of the register of members and the register of debenture holders, there is a requirement on the company to notify the registrar of companies where the register is located. Amendment No. A124A would remove this requirement. This requirement on public companies to notify the registrar is not onerous as notification can be carried out at the same time as that for the other registers. The requirement serves the useful purpose of allowing a third party wishing to inspect the register to check its location with ease via the registrar of companies. The noble Lord asked specifically whether there is an existing requirement under present companies legislation. I can tell the noble Lord that we have not yet been able to find such a reference. However, I hope he will agree that this is not an unreasonable requirement.