Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

The Minister’s response is disappointing. The department often rushes to legislate without any evidence of the necessity for legislation, but in this case the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is the body that is largely affected by these provisions, has put a reasonable case that the existing drafting of the law does not cover the way that it, in practice, carries out its function. It is not appropriate for the department to brush this away on the basis that it is the existing law and nobody has yet been sued. The issue was raised with a genuine intent to try to make sure that the legislation covers how that body works in practice. I will discuss this with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, but I will not be surprised if we feel it necessary to return to this on Report. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 815 agreed to. Clauses 816 and 817 agreed to. Schedule 11 [Recognised professional qualifications]: