To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 4 July (HL1456) in which he said that “it was not in the public interest to commence a criminal investigation” against KPMG for the Silentnight insolvency, whether they will now publish the legal advice upon which...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 4 July (HL1456) in which he said that “it was not in the public interest to commence a criminal investigation” against KPMG for the Silentnight insolvency, whether they will now publish the legal advice upon which...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish a table showing the number of (1) civil, and (2) criminal, prosecutions brought by the Insolvency Service against insolvency practitioners for abusive practices.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish a table showing the number of (1) civil, and (2) criminal, prosecutions brought by the Insolvency Service against insolvency practitioners for abusive practices.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Callanan on 2 November 2021 (HL3320) and 1 February (HL5516), what progress they have made in bringing criminal charges against KPMG's insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Callanan on 2 November 2021 (HL3320) and 1 February (HL5516), what progress they have made in bringing criminal charges against KPMG's insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 2 November 2021 (HL3320), what progress they have made in bringing criminal charges against KPMG’s insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 2 November 2021 (HL3320), what progress they have made in bringing criminal charges against KPMG’s insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish a list showing fines collected from auditors admonished for misconduct by the Financial Reporting Council.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish a list showing fines collected from auditors admonished for misconduct by the Financial Reporting Council.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to bring criminal charges against KPMG’s insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to bring criminal charges against KPMG’s insolvency partner for misconduct during the Silentnight insolvency.

I beg to move, That the Bill be read a Second time.

The Bill contains two halves: first, a measure that changes the valuation assumptions that are applied when making business rate determinations in the light of covid-19; and secondly, a measure that will provide for the disqualification of unfit directors...

I beg to move, That the Bill be read a Second time.

The Bill contains two halves: first, a measure that changes the valuation assumptions that are applied when making business rate determinations in the light of covid-19; and secondly, a measure that will provide for the disqualification of unfit directors...

I support the measures that my hon. Friend is taking in the Bill. He mentioned fraud. I take it that the measures he is talking about would not negate the potential for prosecution of fraud where it was demonstrated that a company director had defrauded the taxpayer by means, for...

I support the measures that my hon. Friend is taking in the Bill. He mentioned fraud. I take it that the measures he is talking about would not negate the potential for prosecution of fraud where it was demonstrated that a company director had defrauded the taxpayer by means, for...

I thank my hon. Friend for that point. He is an expert on these matters in this House, and I look forward to working with him as we deliver the Bill.

When a company is dissolved, the only way the conduct of its former directors can be scrutinised is if it...

I thank my hon. Friend for that point. He is an expert on these matters in this House, and I look forward to working with him as we deliver the Bill.

When a company is dissolved, the only way the conduct of its former directors can be scrutinised is if it...

It is a pleasure to respond on behalf of the Opposition to the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill. It is a short Bill but one that will have important consequences for many businesses and individuals.

The Opposition recognise the rationale behind the Bill and we do not intend...

It is a pleasure to respond on behalf of the Opposition to the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill. It is a short Bill but one that will have important consequences for many businesses and individuals.

The Opposition recognise the rationale behind the Bill and we do not intend...

It is a pleasure to be called so early in a debate, Madam Deputy Speaker; I am not used to that happening frequently. I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I have been involved in business rates as a businessperson for a long...

It is a pleasure to be called so early in a debate, Madam Deputy Speaker; I am not used to that happening frequently. I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I have been involved in business rates as a businessperson for a long...

I am pleased to contribute to this debate. I will confine my remarks to clauses 2 and 3, which are the ones that apply in the whole of the UK. The Minister pointed out that clause 1 does not apply directly to Scotland.

The SNP welcomes the provisions to close the...

I am pleased to contribute to this debate. I will confine my remarks to clauses 2 and 3, which are the ones that apply in the whole of the UK. The Minister pointed out that clause 1 does not apply directly to Scotland.

The SNP welcomes the provisions to close the...

The hon. Gentleman has raised a very interesting case. I am sure he will be aware that the Financial Conduct Authority was warned on numerous occasions about the activities of Blackmore Bond but apparently did nothing about it until it was far too late.

The hon. Gentleman has raised a very interesting case. I am sure he will be aware that the Financial Conduct Authority was warned on numerous occasions about the activities of Blackmore Bond but apparently did nothing about it until it was far too late.

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was reading through the back of my notes, but he is only about five or six lines ahead of what I was going to say.

I do not know whether Mr Nunn and Mr McCreesh were ever placed under formal investigation, or whether...

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was reading through the back of my notes, but he is only about five or six lines ahead of what I was going to say.

I do not know whether Mr Nunn and Mr McCreesh were ever placed under formal investigation, or whether...

A snappy title it is not, but a very important Bill it is, for two very good reasons. I wish to recap by saying that this Government have supported the jobs and livelihoods of the people of this country to the tune of some £400 billion—£300 billion in the past...

A snappy title it is not, but a very important Bill it is, for two very good reasons. I wish to recap by saying that this Government have supported the jobs and livelihoods of the people of this country to the tune of some £400 billion—£300 billion in the past...

I beg to move an amendment, to leave out from “That” to the end of the Question and add:

“this House, while agreeing that the disqualification regime should be extended to directors of dissolved companies, declines to give a Second Reading to the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill...

I beg to move an amendment, to leave out from “That” to the end of the Question and add:

“this House, while agreeing that the disqualification regime should be extended to directors of dissolved companies, declines to give a Second Reading to the Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill...

Rarely is a property built to be a nightclub. It is a property, which is valued on the basis of its rental value, which leads to the rateable value. That business may change hands and go from being a nightclub to a different kind of business. How could we have...

Rarely is a property built to be a nightclub. It is a property, which is valued on the basis of its rental value, which leads to the rateable value. That business may change hands and go from being a nightclub to a different kind of business. How could we have...

The hon. Member raises a valuable point. Nevertheless, if a property has always been operated as a nightclub business, a change of use, for example, which may well require an appeal to the local planning authority, still has a measurable impact on the value of that property.

I understand that 170,000...

The hon. Member raises a valuable point. Nevertheless, if a property has always been operated as a nightclub business, a change of use, for example, which may well require an appeal to the local planning authority, still has a measurable impact on the value of that property.

I understand that 170,000...

First, I thank the Minister for setting the scene so very well and for answering some of the questions that I had. I will ask a few questions—it is my nature to do so—which perhaps the Minister will be able to answer for me. Rating is a devolved issue and...

First, I thank the Minister for setting the scene so very well and for answering some of the questions that I had. I will ask a few questions—it is my nature to do so—which perhaps the Minister will be able to answer for me. Rating is a devolved issue and...

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the debate on behalf of the Opposition and to consider the contributions made by hon. Members. I also thank the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the hon. Member for Sutton and

Cheam (Paul Scully), for the meeting...

I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the debate on behalf of the Opposition and to consider the contributions made by hon. Members. I also thank the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the hon. Member for Sutton and

Cheam (Paul Scully), for the meeting...