Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

The Minister’s point about the varied forms of management structures is valid. It is a pity that we cannot make progress from the Companies Act 1985, because that is what we are trying to do. Saying that something is in the 1985 Act and that is good enough is a counsel of despair. So I am disappointed by the Minister’s response. We need to consider carefully what he said. I am sure that some respondents opposed a definition of manager—one can find somebody to oppose any change of any sort anywhere in company law. We need to try to find ways to bring more precision to these areas, difficult though it is. We were sorry that the Company Law Review—which the Minister often prays in aid as being, like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion—was not able to have its recommendations incorporated in the Bill in this case. However, I accept what the Minister says and we will not take this matter further this afternoon. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 731 agreed to. Clauses 732 and 733 agreed to. Schedule 4 [Amendments of remaining provisions of the Companies Act 1985 relating to offences]: