Contributions
506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Employment Relations (Flexible Working) BillMy hon. Friend is making an excellent speech, but I want to touch on productivity, because that is the central point. It is great to offer people the chance to work in various…28 Oct 2022HANSARD Employment Relations (Flexible Working) BillI thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. As I said at the start of my speech, that is the very reason why I support the Bill. It does not place burdensome legal…28 Oct 2022HANSARD Employment Relations (Flexible Working) BillI draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests: I am a practising solicitor and a partner in a firm of solicitors. I support the Bill,…28 Oct 2022HANSARD Employment Relations (Flexible Working) BillAs ever, my hon. Friend is absolutely correct. We have to be mindful of that. Again, the House has to understand the pressures on businesses. This is an extremely difficult time…28 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q I am sorry to interrupt you—we are short of time. Subject to that, the things I have just read out are good, are they not? We should welcome them. Helena Wood: They absolutely…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q I want to go back to information sharing. My understanding of the Bill—please tell me if I am wrong—is that the clauses will allow “direct sharing between two businesses in the…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Can we very quickly come to you, Mr Hames? Duncan Hames: Helena is the expert on this particular subject. Helena Wood: This is a welcome step forward. Others are going much…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q I want to pick up on the question about Companies House. On Tuesday, Companies House described themselves as a passive organisation at this moment in time; potentially, they are…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q The reason I ask is that the example was given on Tuesday of a chip shop in Barnsley—great town that it is—has 50 legal entities registered to it. There are thousands of…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q Thank you, Graham. I think you have answered this question, but, in layman’s terms, if Fred Bloggs from Bury—my constituency—who has led a blameless life and is 95 years of age,…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Q Forgive me for interrupting, Graham—it is just because of time. When we look at red flags in various ways, we obviously talk about identification, but if the information…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Third sitting)Thank you, Graham.27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Under the Bill exemptions from the main money-laundering offences would apply in two sets of circumstances. One is when a regulated business ends a business relationship with a…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Time might mean that you will be not be able to answer this question as fully as you might wish. However, on where we are now, and where the Bill will take us, the general view…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)That is very helpful. Thank you.27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)On a point of order, Ms Bardell. As a result of Mr Tugendhat’s question, I had better declare an interest: I am a practising solicitor.27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q One of the things we have talked about with every witness—you will probably give a similar answer, Mr Swabey—is that we all want to see Companies House resourced to be able to…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q In layman’s terms, and very briefly, if I want to register a legal entity and I employ you or somebody else to do that, what information is submitted to Companies House? Peter…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q So such a process—light-touch regulation at its finest—is certainly open to fraudulent activities. Peter Swabey: I think it is fair to say that at the moment it is nothing like…27 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Catherine, thank you very much for giving evidence; what you have said is very helpful. You have investigated these matters and looked into them. You have talked about Companies…27 Oct 2022