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Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for his response. I understand what he is saying but it is curious that Clause 492(3) refers specifically to the civil liability position in relation to signing the auditor’s report and yet the Bill is silent in respect of anything else. This could lead to the conclusion that being named—or something else—could lead to liability. It is because of the specificity about signing that people have raised the concern that there may be some other way of being dragged into civil liability. That is why the two amendments in this group—both mine and the one in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Sharman—seek to broaden Clause 492(3) to reflect that concern. The way in which the subsection refers only to signing is unsatisfactory.