Introductory text

Whereas:

1. (a)

   the Secretary of State is of the opinion that certain provisions of the Companies Act 1985^f1 which are the subject of this Order impose burdens affecting persons in the carrying on of a trade, business, profession or otherwise and that by amending or repealing the provisions concerned and by making certain other provision it is possible to remove or reduce the burdens without removing any necesssary protection;

2. (b)

   the Secretary of State has consulted such organisations as appear to him to be representative of interests substantially affected by his proposals and such other persons as he considers appropriate;

3. (c)

   as a result of that consultation it appears to the Secretary of State appropriate to vary part of his proposals, and he has undertaken such further consultation with respect to the variations as appears to him to be appropriate;

4. (d)

   it appears to the Secretary of State that it is appropriate, following those consultations, to proceed with the making of this Order;

5. (e)

   a document setting out the Secretary of State’s proposals has been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 3 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994^f2 and the period for Parliamentary consideration under section 4 of that Act has expired;

6. (f)

   the Secretary of State has had regard to the representations made during that period;

7. (g)

   a draft of this Order has been laid before Parliament with a statement giving details of such representations and the changes (if any) to the Secretary of State’s proposals in the light of those representations; and

8. (h)

   a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.