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Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

I am pleased to add my name to the amendment so ably moved by my noble kinsman Lady Thornton. I simply add that the time has come to move the issue of impact on the environment out of being seen as primarily the responsibility of the public sector. The public sector in all its forms—whether government or local authorities—is inspected, measured and targeted, and is very aware of its responsibilities towards both climate change and sustainable development. I am not sure that that message has got through to the private sector. The responsible parts of the private sector are absolutely doing their bit, but it is hard, as an ordinary member of the public, to discern the difference between the marketing bandwagon onto which some companies have leapt with alacrity, using the words ““ethical””, ““fair trade”” or ““sustainable””, and those companies which are seriously involved in that work and whose policies embody it. This amendment would be a helpful move towards more transparency in this area.