The Company and Business Names (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Company and Business Names Regulations 1981 (S.I. 1981/1685).

Regulation 2 provides that the word “government” and the expressions “HPSS”, “HSC” and NHS” cannot form part of a company’s registered name or a business name without the prior approval of the Secretary of State.

A person who wishes to use “NHS” as part of a company’s registered name or as a business name must also—

(a) request, in writing, the views of the Department of Health as to the use of that expression; and

(b) submit to the Secretary of State a statement that such a request has been made and a copy of any response received from the Department of Health.

Regulation 3 includes savings for business names which included the word “government” or the expressions “HPSS”, “HSC” and NHS” prior to the entry into force of these Regulations.

An Impact Assessment in respect of these Regulations has not been produced as there is no impact on the costs of business.

The word “government” was prescribed by the Company and Business Names (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1947) which were made on 9th July 2007 and came into force on 10th July 2007. S.I. 2007/1947 ceased to have effect from 18th October 2007 as that instrument was not considered by either House of Parliament by that date. S.I. 2007/1947 did not prescribe “HPSS”, “HSC” or “NHS”.