Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

The Minister was rather more peremptory in his response than I had anticipated. He treats that as if it were a self-evident truth. The advice we have is that the Government’s drafting of the clause will make the situation worse, not better. ““Of the nature”” provides a catch-all phrase that lawyers can seek to exploit. This is a serious issue which the Government need to address. We will have to take further advice. I am sure that it is not in the Government’s mind, nor is it in ours, that passing off should be made any easier. We are slightly concerned at how the Government have left the clause, which makes passing off easier rather than more difficult. That is the advice we have had. Our amendment sought to change the provision and make it focus properly. I hope the Minister will talk to his officials about it; otherwise we may want to return to it on Report. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 795 agreed to. Clause 796 agreed to. Clause 797 [Application of this Chapter]: [Amendment No. A232 not moved.] Clause 797 agreed to. Clause 798 agreed to. Clause 799 [Disclosure required: business documents etc]: