The books containing the minutes of proceedings of any general meeting of a company held on or after 1st November 1929 shall be kept at the company’s registered office, and shall F1 . . . be open to the inspection of any member without charge.

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Any member shall be entitled F3on payment of such fee as may be prescribed to be furnished, within 7 days after he has made a request in that behalf to the company, with a copy of any such minutes as are referred to above, F4 . . ..

If an inspection required under this section is refused or if a copy required under this section is not sent within the proper time, the company and every officer of it who is in default is liable in respect of each offence to a fine.

In the case of any such refusal or default, the court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the books in respect of all proceedings of general meetings, or direct that the copies required be sent to the persons requiring them.