Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am extremely disappointed with the Minister’s response. He referred to burdens on the FRRP and on the Takeover Panel—but we are talking about protecting the confidentiality of information. It may be that these bodies have obtained the information because the organisations or individuals are under investigation in some way, but that does not authorise onward circulation of that information. We are very clear about this. I do not believe that the HMRC Act is completely sui generis; it is there for the purpose of putting in controls. Indeed, we debated those controls very extensively during the passage of that Act, which I had the privilege of taking through with the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General only last year. I am not satisfied with the Minister’s response. I beg leave to test the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 272) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 123; Not-Contents, 117.