Contributions
1,851 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the Minister for that response. As he pointed out, he had to read the provision several times in order to be clear on the drafting. Clause 14 (5)(3) says: “The period must…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)Would the Minister consider a PO box address to be an appropriate address—yes or no?01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)This important amendment seeks to clarify the Bill’s definition of an appropriate address for a company’s registration. We have talked many times, both in this Committee and…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 86, in clause 28, page 17, line 14, at end insert— “(2A) An address is not an ‘appropriate address’ if— (a) it is not a place where the business of the…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)In the light of the fact that new clause 34 has been tabled, which we have not yet had the opportunity to study, we will not press the amendment. I beg to ask leave to withdraw…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the Minister for that response. My second point is on clause 15, which considers changing names. As we have said, the clause is a welcome recognition of the issues around…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)I thank the Minister for coming back in such detail on our points. We certainly look forward to studying new clause 34. We have not really had an opportunity to look at it yet,…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)Briefly on clause 17, I would just like to mark the card because, again, there is an issue with the use of the phrase: “The period must be a period of at least 28 days” in…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)The Minister is being very generous in giving way. The issue with clause 16 is the term “pose a risk of harm to the public”, which seems to be very broad. Can he expand on how…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)Excellent. We support clause 16, which gives extra powers to the Secretary of State to direct a company to change its name only if he or she deems it to be as little as “a risk of…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)My right hon. Friend has hit the nail on the head. I hope the Minister will reflect on that. Moving on to clauses 15 to 22, we are content with clause 15, which would allow for…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)You are absolutely right to keep us in line, Ms Bardell. We need to ensure we can operationalise the Bill in the clearest and most succinct way that leaves absolutely no room for…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)rose —01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)Maybe the Minister and I are just not seeing it through the same lens. I agree that there should be a fixed period, but I think it should be clearly defined that the fixed period…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)It is difficult for me to match what my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking has so eloquently said and what other colleagues have said. I think we need to reinforce the point…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)Up to and including clause 27, finishing, and then moving on to clause 28. Thank you for that clarification, Ms Bardell. The National Crime Agency estimates that £100 billion of…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Bardell. I add to the comments of my right hon. and hon. Friends in welcoming the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Sixth sitting)I beg to move amendment 87, in clause 14, page 8, line 11, leave out “at least” and insert “no more than”. This amendment, and Amendments 88 to 93 would require that, when a…01 Nov 2022HANSARDEngagementsQ7. Yesterday, the Prime Minister stood on the steps of Downing Street and said that he wanted to restore trust, yet in the past 24 hours, we have seen that he is prepared…26 Oct 2022HANSARDEconomic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (Second sitting)Q The challenge that we have is that money laundering prosecutions have dropped by 35% over the last five years in the UK, and the number of crimes being investigated— […25 Oct 2022