Companies Act 1989

143 Rights of inspection and related matters

(1) In Part XXV of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (miscellaneous and supplementary provisions), after section 723 insert—

“723A Obligations of company as to inspection of registers, &c

(1) The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the obligations of a company which is required by any provision of this Act—

(a) to make available for inspection any register, index or document, or

(b) to provide copies of any such register, index or document, or part of it;

• and a company which fails to comply with the regulations shall be deemed to have refused inspection or, as the case may be, to have failed to provide a copy.

(2) The regulations may make provision as to the time, duration and manner of inspection, including the circumstances in which and extent to which the copying of information is permitted in the course of inspection.

(3) The regulations may define what may be required of the company as regards the nature, extent and manner of extracting or presenting any information for the purposes of inspection or the provision of copies.

(4) Where there is power to charge a fee, the regulations may make provision as to the amount of the fee and the basis of its calculation.

(5) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different classes of case.

(6) Nothing in any provision of this Act or in the regulations shall be construed as preventing a company from affording more extensive facilities than are required by the regulations or, where a fee may be charged, from charging a lesser fee than that prescribed or no fee at all.

(7) Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”.

(2) In section 169(5) of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (contract for purchase by company of its own shares), omit the words from “, during business hours” to “for inspection)”.

(3) In section 175(6) of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (statutory declaration and auditors' report relating to payment out of capital), in paragraph (b) omit the words from “during business hours” to “period”.

(4) In section 191 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (register of debenture holders)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit the words from “(but” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “a fee of 5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”;

(b) in subsection (2) for the words from “10 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and

(c) in subsection (3), after “on payment” insert “of such fee as may be prescribed” and omit paragraphs (a) and (b).

(5) In section 219 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (register of interests in shares, &c.)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)”; and

(b) in subsection (2) for the words from “10 pence” to “required to be copied” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.

(6) In section 288 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (register of directors and secretaries), in subsection (3), omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.

(7) In section 318 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (directors' service contracts), in subsection (7) omit the words from “, during business hours” to “for inspection)”.

(8) In section 356 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (register and index of members' names)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit “during business hours” and for “the appropriate charge” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”;

(b) omit subsection (2);

(c) in subsection (3) for “the appropriate charge” substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and

(d) omit subsection (4).

(9) In section 383 of the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (minutes of proceedings of general meetings)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit “during business hours”;

(b) omit subsection (2); and

(c) in subsection (3), after “entitled” insert “on payment of such fee as may be prescribed” and omit the words from “at a charge” to the end.

(10) In Part IV of Schedule 13 to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (register of directors' interests)—

(a) in paragraph 25, omit the words from “during” to “for inspection)” and for the words from “5 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”; and

(b) in paragraph 26(1), for the words from “10 pence” to the end substitute “such fee as may be prescribed”.

(11) In Schedule 22 to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (provisions applying to unregistered companies), in the entry relating to Part XXV at the appropriate place insert—

“Section 723A

Rights of inspection and related matters.

To apply only so far as this provision has effect in relation to provisions applying by virtue of the foregoing provisions of this Schedule.”