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Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

I have listened very carefully to all sides of this debate. I endorse entirely what the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, says. I would be very grateful if, when the Minister considers this, he will also consider the fact that it is increasingly common best practice for UK public companies to hold their AGMs and vote on all resolutions at them by poll. If that is the case, we surely cannot afford to have independent assessors effectively delaying the outcome of the AGM by taking weeks to produce a poll. If we are going to encourage transparency—and best practice now does that, as the results for the polls are published the following day; in fact, in some cases they are published at the meeting—I can only see these provisions making people less reluctant to vote on resolutions by poll where they do not have to. Having said that, I will return to the matter at a later stage. Meanwhile, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave withdrawn. Clause 316 agreed to. Clause 317 [Appointment of independent assessor]: [Amendment No. 300UB not moved.] Clause 317 agreed to. Clauses 318 to 323 agreed to. Clause 324 [Offences relating to provision of information]: