Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the total value is of fines collected for companies officers' offences under sections 21, 22 and 23 of the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 since 31 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
The total value of fines collected since 31st January 2015 for companies’ officers’ offences under the sections referred to is nil.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many company officers and Limited Liability Partnership designated members have been fined for offences under sections 21, 22 and 23 of the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business (Names and Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2015 since 31 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
No company officers or Limited Liability Partnership designated members have been fined under the sections referred to since 31st January 2015.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people work for the breaches team at Companies House (a) in total and (b) as full-time equivalents.
Answered by Margot James
Six people (equating to six full-time equivalents) work for the Breaches Team at Companies House.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many financial penalties have been awarded in relation to Directors' statement and auditor's report to be available for inspection under section 720(5) of the Companies Act 2006 since 1 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
Since 1st January 2015, no financial penalties have been awarded in relation to the section referred to.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many convictions there have been for general false statement offences under section 1112 of the Companies Act 2006 since 1 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
There have been no convictions for general false statement offences under the section referred to since 1st January 2015.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps Companies House takes to ensure that all legally required Limited Liability Partnership filing information is provided.
Answered by Margot James
All liability partnerships (LLPs) have a legal requirement to file annual accounts and Confirmation Statements with the Registrar each and every year. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and Companies House has a proactive system in place. This includes reminders being issued prior the deadline dates and, if they are not filed, there is a compliance process that reminds them of their obligations and the consequences of failing to file. If it is deemed to be in the public interest Companies House will take prosecution action against the LLP and its designated members.
For all other information legally required to be filed, on receipt of a public complaint, Companies House will consider what action to take. Companies House’s primary aim will be to try to achieve compliance. If the company does not comply, the case will be referred to prosecutors and a prosecution will be brought if it is deemed to be in the public interest. In the event of a conviction the Court would impose the appropriate penalty.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many of his Department's staff he plans to allocate to support EU negotiations on EU research funding programmes after Article 50 has been triggered.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Departments are equipping themselves with the resources they need to get the best deal as we exit the European Union. This whole exercise is an all-government operation. The government is preparing for the UK to make an orderly and successful exit, including in the important area of research.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many financial penalties have been awarded in relation to duty to notify registrars of changes under section 167(4) of the Companies Act 2006 since 1 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
Since 1st January 2015, no financial penalties have been awarded in relation to the section referred to.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many financial penalties have been awarded in relation to the register of directors under section 162(6) of the Companies Act 2006 since 1 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
Since 1st January 2015 no financial penalties have been awarded in relation to the register of directors under the section referred to.
Asked by: Roger Mullin (Scottish National Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many financial penalties have been awarded in relation to the direction requiring a company to make appointment under section 156(6) of the Companies Act 2006 since 1 January 2015.
Answered by Margot James
When a company that is actively trading does not have a natural director (a director who is an individual rather than a corporate body), Companies House will (on behalf of the Secretary of State) issue a direction requiring the company to appoint one. Companies House's primary aim will be to try to achieve compliance. If the company does not comply, the case will be referred to prosecutors and a prosecution will be bought if it is deemed to be in the public interest. In the event of a conviction the Court would impose the appropriate penalty. However, to date, all companies have either complied with the direction issued by Companies House or prosecution action has not been in the public interest as defined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.