---

Companies Act 2006 (Part 35) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009

I wonder whether I might impudently ask the Minister one or two gentle queries on the order before us today. First, I declare a very minor interest. I look around the Committee today to find the Minister, my noble friend and perhaps one or two other noble Lords who have ground through the years to become chartered accountants. Indeed, I am reminded of the musical, "Evita", when the young lady says, "Somebody called me something unmentionable" and an old man says, "Yes, madam, they still call me an admiral, although I left the sea many years ago". With regard to the accountancy profession, that is very much up my street. The Minister referred at least twice to language. I beg him not to trouble himself today, but I hope that he can answer this impudent question in writing. The Minister referred twice to the language requirements, which are mentioned right at the bottom, in paragraph 4, Section 1059A(4), Sections 1102 to 1105 and 1107(18). I think that he mentioned Welsh. I had the opportunity to serve in Northern Ireland. I do not think that any cantankerous people would wish to have financial documents in Irish—or I doubt it. Do the language requirements cover other languages? I think particularly of oriental languages such as Japanese or Chinese, let alone Vietnamese. I understand that the Minister served in Vietnam. I was curious about that; perhaps he could reassure me that there should be no problem here. He referred to Welsh, which should be the only one. On page 4, paragraph 13 refers to Section 1109(1) and, ""voluntary transliteration of name or address into Roman characters"." Is there a problem there? I am curious as to quite what that refers to. I am not necessarily aware of that section in the Companies Act. Could the Minister reassure me that there is no problem there? If he cannot today, perhaps he could write to me as I would not wish at any time to delay the Committee.