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Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, has said, I have added my name to Amendment No. 186 in this group. I begin by acknowledging the very significant steps taken by the Government to meet our concerns in this difficult area. As the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, said, Amendments Nos. 186 and 185 address the same issue. There is, however, a subtle difference between the two. I will not move Amendment No. 186, but I ask the Government and the Bill team to take on board the issue of knowledge. Government Amendment No. 185 does not address the issue of whether or not the directors had knowledge of the illegal donation, but Amendment No. 186 takes this into account by referring to them having the knowledge and whether or not they did anything about it. I shall not press the amendment at this stage, but I would like the Government to take that on board.