Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986

20 Admissibility in evidence of statements. U.K.

[F1 (1)] In any proceedings (whether or not under this Act), any statement made in pursuance of a requirement imposed by or under sections [F2 5A, 6 to 10, 12C, 15 to 15C] or 19(c) of, or Schedule 1 to, this Act, or by or under rules made for the purposes of this Act under the Insolvency Act [F3 1986] [F4 or under the 1989 Order], may be used in evidence against any person making or concurring in making the statement.

[F5 (2) However, in criminal proceedings in which any such person is charged with an offence to which this subsection applies—

(a) no evidence relating to the statement may be adduced, and

(b) no question relating to it may be asked,

by or on behalf of the prosecution, unless evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, in the proceedings by or on behalf of that person.

(3) Subsection (2) applies to any offence other than—

(a) an offence which is—

(i) created by rules made for the purposes of this Act under the Insolvency Act [F6 1986], and

(ii) designated for the purposes of this subsection by such rules or by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(b) an offence which is—

(i) created by regulations made under any such rules, and

(ii) designated for the purposes of this subsection by such regulations;

(c) an offence under section 5 of the M1 Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath); F7 ...

(d) an offence under section 44(2) of the M2 Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath)[F8 ; or

(e) an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1714 (N.I. 19)) (false statements made otherwise than on oath).]

(4) Regulations under subsection (3)(a)(ii) shall be made by statutory instrument and, after being made, shall be laid before each House of Parliament.]

[F9 (5) In subsection (1), “the 1989 Order” means the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 20 renumbered as s. 20(1) (E.W.) (14.4.2000) and (S.) (1.1.2001) by 1999 c. 23, ss. 59, Sch. 3 para. 8(2) (with s. 63(2), Sch. 7 paras. 3(3), 5(2)); S.I. 2000/1034, art. 2(a) and S.S.I. 2000/445, art. 2

F2 Words in s. 20(1) substituted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 7 para. 15; S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(c); S.I. 2015/1689, reg. 2(g)

F3 Words in s. 20(1) inserted (1.10.2009) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1941), art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 85(6)(a) (with art. 10)

F4 Words in s. 20(1) inserted (22.2.2024) by Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 13 para. 2(11)(a) (with Sch. 13 para. 4(2))

F5 S. 20(2)-(4) inserted (E.W.) (14.4.2000) and (S.) (1.1.2001) by 1999 c. 23, ss. 59, Sch. 3 para. 8(1)(3) (with s. 63(2), Sch. 7 paras. 3(3), 5(2)); S.I. 2000/1034, art. 2(a) and S.S.I. 2000/445, art. 2

F6 Words in s. 20(3)(a)(i) inserted (1.10.2009) by The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1941), art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 85(6)(a) (with art. 10)

F7 Word in s. 20(3)(c) omitted (22.2.2024) by virtue of Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 13 para. 2(11)(b)(i) (with Sch. 13 para. 4(2))

F8 S. 20(3)(e) and word inserted (22.2.2024) by Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 13 para. 2(11)(b)(ii) (with Sch. 13 para. 4(2))

F9 S. 20(5) inserted (22.2.2024) by Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 13 para. 2(11)(c) (with Sch. 13 para. 4(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 19(c), 20 extended (with modifications) by S.I. 1986/2142, art. 6

C2 S. 20 extended (with modifications) (1.7.1989) by S.I. 1989/638, regs. 20, 21

C3 S. 20 applied (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8

C4 S. 20 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 16, Sch. 8 (as amended (E.W.) (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 paras. 4, 8)

Marginal Citations

M1 1911 c. 6.

M2 1995 c. 39.