Explanatory note

The Regulations amend the Companies (Fees) Regulations 1991, as amended by the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1992, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1994, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1995, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1996, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1998, the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 and the Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2002, which require the payment of fees in respect of functions performed by the registrar of companies under the Companies Act 1985.

As of 31st December 2002, the registrar of companies will dispense with the practice of updating records held in microfiche form (though the archive of existing microfiche records will not be destroyed). This means that documents received after that cut-off date will not be added to a branch or undertaking’s microfiche record and current company information will instead be provided in paper or electronic form. Regulation 3(a) accordingly deletes references in the 1991 Regulations to all fees relating to microfiche-based services.

To ensure that an alternative remains for persons who do not wish to obtain information relating to a branch or undertaking by electronic means, there will be a service whereby a person may request a paper copy of a document relating to a branch or undertaking recorded and kept by the registrar of companies. Such copy will be delivered by post. Regulation 3(b) accordingly states the fee for the paper-based service.

Regulation 4 amends the Companies (Fees) Regulations 1991, as amended, by deleting those definitions which are redundant following the deletion of entries 4, 5, 7A, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16b and 18 in the first column of the Schedule to the 1991 Regulations.