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Company Law Reform Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister. I am running into a brick wall. I accept the argument about the variability of turnover—the problem with the audit test—and I accept the problems of drawing another line. It is a shame that we shall not have company secretaries in large private companies, but I think I have exhausted my arguments and possibly the Minister as well. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 145 not moved.] Clause 250 [Public company required to have secretary]: [Amendment No. 146 not moved.] Clause 251 [Direction requiring public company to appoint secretary]: [Amendment No. 147 not moved.] Clause 252 [Qualifications of secretaries of public companies]: [Amendments Nos. 148 and 149 not moved.] Clause 253 [Discharge of functions where office vacant or secretary unable to act]: [Amendment No. 150 not moved.] Clause 254 [Duty to keep register of secretaries]: [Amendment No. 151 not moved.] Clause 255 [Duty to notify registrar of changes]: [Amendment No. 152 not moved.] Clause 256 [Particulars of secretaries to be registered: individuals]: [Amendment No. 153 not moved.] Clause 257 [Particulars of secretaries to be registered: corporate secretaries and firms]: [Amendment No. 154 not moved.] Clause 258 [Particulars of secretaries to be registered: power to make regulations]: [Amendment No. 155 not moved.] Clause 259 [Acts done by person in dual capacity]: [Amendment No. 156 not moved.] Clause 282 [Members’ power to require directors to call general meeting]: