386. Categories of preferential debts387. "The relevant date"(1) A reference in this Act to the preferential debts of a company or an individual is to the debts listed in Schedule 6 to this Act (money owed to the Inland Revenue for income tax deducted at source ; VAT, car tax, betting and gaming duties ; social security and pension scheme contributions ; remuneration etc. of employees) ; and references to preferential creditors are to be read accordingly.
(2) In that Schedule "the debtor" means the company or the individual concerned.
(3) Schedule 6 is to be read with Schedule 3 to the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 (occupational pension scheme contributions).
(1) This section explains references in Schedule 6 to the relevant date (being the date which determines the existence and amount of a preferential debt).
(2) For the purposes of section 4 in Part I (meetings to consider company voluntary arrangement), the relevant date in relation to a company which is not being wound up is -
(a) where an administration order is in force in relation to the company, the date of the making of that order, and
(b) where no such order has been made, the date of the approval of the voluntary arrangement.
(3) In relation to a company which is being wound up, the following applies -
(a) if the winding up is by the court, and the winding-up order was made immediately upon the discharge of an administration order, the relevant date is the date of the making of the administration order;
(b) if the case does not fall within paragraph (a) and the company -
(i) is being wound up by the court, and
(ii) had not commenced to be wound up voluntarily before the date of the making of the winding-up order,
the relevant date is the date of the appointment (or first appointment) of a provisional liquidator or, if no such appointment has been made, the date of the winding-up order;
(c) if the case does not fall within either paragraph (a) or (b), the relevant date is the date of the passing of the resolution for the winding up of the company.
(4) In relation to a company in receivership (where section 40 or, as the case may be, section 59 applies), the relevant date is -
(a) in England and Wales, the date of the appointment of the receiver by debenture-holders, and
(b) in Scotland, the date of the appointment of the receiver under section 53(6) or (as the case may be) 54(5).
(5) For the purposes of section 258 in Part VIII (individual voluntary arrangements), the relevant date is, in relation to a debtor who is not an undischarged bankrupt, the date of the interim order made under section 252 with respect to his proposal.
(6) In relation to a bankrupt, the following applies -
(a) where at a time the bankruptcy order was made there was a interim receiver appointed under section 286, the relevant date is the date on which the interim receiver was first appointed after the presentation of the bankruptcy petition;
(b) otherwise, the relevant date is the date of the making of the bankruptcy order.
Restrictions on unqualified persons acting as liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, etc.
388. Meaning of "act as insolvency practitioner"389. Acting without qualification an offence(1) A person acts as an insolvency practitioner in relation to a company acting -
(a) as its liquidator, administrator or administrative receiver, or
(b) as supervisor of a voluntary arrangement approved by it under Part I.
(2) A person acts as an insolvency practitioner in relation to an individual by acting -
(a) as his trustee in bankruptcy or interim receiver of his property or as permanent or interim trustee in the sequestration of his estate; or
(b) as trustee under a deed which is a deed of arrangement made for the benefit of his creditors or, in Scotland, a trust deed for his creditors; or
(c) as supervisor of a voluntary arrangement proposed by him and approved under Part VIII; or
(d) in the case of a deceased individual to the administration of whose estate this section applies by virtue of an order under section 421 (application of provisions of this Act to insolvent estates of deceased persons), as administrator of that estate.
(3) References in this section to an individual include, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, references to a partner- ship and to any debtor within the meaning of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.
(4) In this section -
"administrative receiver" has the meaning given by section 251 in Part VIII;
"company" means a company within the meaning given by section 735(1) of the Companies Act or a company which may be wound up under Part V of this Act (unregistered companies); and
"interim trustee" and "permanent trustee" mean the same as in the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.
(5) Nothing in this section applies to anything done by the official receiver.
(1) A person who acts as an insolvency practitioner in relation to a company or an individual at a time when he is not qualified to do so is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or to both.
(2) This section does not apply to the official receiver.
The requisite qualification, and the means of obtaining it 390. Person not qualified to act as insolvency practitioners
391. Recognised professional bodies(1) A person who is not an individual is not qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner.
(2) A person is not qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner at any time unless at that time -
(a) he is authorised so to act by virtue of membership of a professional body recognised under section 391 below, being permitted so to act by or under the rules of that body, or
(b) he holds an authorisation by a competent authority under section 393.
(3) A person is not qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner in relation to another person at any time unless -
(a) there is in force at that time security or, in Scotland, caution for the proper performance of his functions, and
(b) that security or caution meets the prescribed requirements with respect to his acting in relation to that other person.
(4) A person is not qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner at any time if at that time -
(a) he has been adjudged bankrupt or sequestration of his estate has been awarded and (in either case) he has not been discharged,
(b) he is subject to a disqualification order made under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, or
(c) he is a patient within the meaning of Part VII of the Mental Health Act 1983 or section 125(1) of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.
392. Authorisation by competent authority(1) The Secretary of State may by order declare a body which appears to him to fall within subsection (2) below to be a recognised professional body for the purposes of this section.
(2) A body may be recognised if it regulates the practice of a profession and maintains and enforces rules for securing that such of its members as are permitted by or under the rules to act as insolvency practitioners -
(a) are fit and proper persons so to act, and
(b) meet acceptable requirements as to education and practical training and experience.
(3) References to members of a recognised professional body are to persons who, whether members of that body or not, are subject to its rules in the practice of the profession in question.
The reference in section 390(2) above to membership of a professional body recognised under this section is to be read accordingly.
(4) An order made under subsection (1) in relation to a professional body may be revoked by a further order if it appears to the Secretary of State that the body no longer falls within subsection (2).
(5) An order of the Secretary of State under this section has effect from such date as is specified in the order ; and any such order revoking a previous order may make provision whereby members of the body in question continue to be treated as authorised to act as insolvency practitioners for a specified period after the revocation takes effect.
393. Grant, refusal and withdrawal of authorisation(1) Application may be made to a competent authority for authorisation to act as an insolvency practitioner.
(2) The competent authorities for this purpose are -
(a) in relation to a case of any description specified in directions given by the Secretary of State, the body or person so specified in relation to cases of that description, and
(b) in relation to a case not falling within paragraph (a), the Secretary of State.
(3) The application -
(a) shall be made in such manner as the competent authority may direct,
(b) shall contain or be accompanied by such information as that authority may reasonably require for the purpose of determining the application, and
(c) shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee;
and the authority may direct that notice of the making of the application shall be published in such manner as may be specified in the direction.
(4) At any time after receiving the application and before determining if the authority may require the applicant to furnish additional information.
(5) Directions and requirements given or imposed under subsection (3) or (4) may differ as between different applications.
(6) Any information to be furnished to the competent authority under this section shall, if it so requires, be in such form or verified in such manner as it may specify.
(7) An application may be withdrawn before it is granted or refused.
(8) Other sums received under this section by a competent authority other than the Secretary of State may be retained by the authority; and any sums received by the Secretary of State shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
394. Notices(1) The competent authority may, on an application duly made in accordance with section 392 and after being furnished with all such information as it may require under that section, grant or refuse the application.
(2) The authority shall grant the application if it appears to it from the information furnished by the applicant and having regard to such other information, if any, as it may have -
(a) that the applicant is a fit and proper person to act as an insolvency practitioner, and
(b) that the applicant meets the prescribed requirements with respect to education and practical training and experience.
(3) An authorisation granted under this section, if not previously withdrawn, continues in force for such period not exceeding the prescribed maximum as may be specified in the authorisation.
(4) An authorisation so granted may be withdrawn by the competent authority if it appears to it -
(a) that the holder of the authorisation is no longer a fit and proper person to act as an insolvency practitioner, or
(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a), that the holder -
(i) has failed to comply with any provision of this Part or of any regulations made under this Part or Part XV, or
(ii) in purported compliance with any such provision, has furnished the competent authority with false, inaccurate or misleading information.
(5) An authorisation granted under this section may be withdrawn by the competent authority at the request or with the consent of the holder of the authorisation.
395. Right to make representatives(1) Where a competent authority grants an authorisation under section 393, it shall give written notice of that fact to the applicant, specifying the date on which the authorisation takes effect.
(2) Where the authority proposes to refuse an application or to withdraw an authorisation under section 393(4), it shall give the applicant or holder of the authorisation written notice of its intention to do so, setting out particulars of the grounds on which it proposes to act.
(3) In the case of a proposed withdrawal the notice shall state the date on which it is proposed that the withdrawal should take effect.
(4) A notice under subsection (2) shall give particulars of the rights exercisable under the next two sections by a person on whom the notice is served.
396. Reference to Tribunal(1) A person on whom a notice is served under section 394(2) may within 14 days after the date of service make written representations to the competent authority.
(2) The competent authority shall have regard to any representations so made in determining whether to refuse the application or with- draw the authorisation, as the case may be.
397. Action of Tribunal on reference(1) The Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal (" The Tribunal") continues in being ; and the provisions of Schedule 7 apply to it.
(2) Where a person is served with a notice under section 394(2), he may -
(a) at any time within 28 days after the date of service of the notice, or
(b) at any time after the making by him of representatives under section 395 and before the end of the period of 28 days after the date of the service on him of a notice by the competent authority that the authority does not propose to alter its decision in consequence of the representations,
give written the notice to the authority requiring the case to be referred to the Tribunal.
(3) Where a requirement is made under subsection (2), then, unless the competent authority -
(a) has decided or decides to grant the application or, as the case may be, not to withdraw the authorisation, and
(b) within 7 days after the date of the making of the requirement, gives written notice of that decision to the person by whom the requirement was made,
it shall refer the case to the Tribunal.
398. Refusal or withdrawal without reference to Tribunal(1) On a reference under section 396 the Tribunal shall -
(a) investigate the case, and
(b) make a report to the competent authority stating what would in their opinion be the appropriate decision in the matter and the reasons for that opinion,
and is the duty of the competent authority to decide the matter accordingly.
(2) The Tribunal shall send a copy of the report to the applicant or, as the case may be, the holder of the authorisation; and the competent authority shall serve him with a written notice of the decision made by it in accordance with the report.
(3) The competent authority may, if he thinks fit, publish the report of the Tribunal.
Where in the case of any proposed refusal or withdrawal of an authorisation either -
(a) the period mentioned in section 396(2)(a) has expired without the making of any requirement under that subsection or of any representations under section 395, or
(b) the competent authority has given notice such as is mentioned in subsection 396(2)(b) and the period so mentioned has expired without the making of any such requirement,
the competent authority may give written notice of the refusal or withdrawal to the person concerned in accordance with the proposal in the notice given under section 394(2).
Official Receivers
399. Appointment, etc. of official receivers400. Functions and status of official receivers(1) For the purposes of this Act the official receiver, in relation to any bankruptcy or winding up, is a person who by virtue of the following provisions of this section or section 401 below is authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to that bankruptcy or winding up.
(2) The Secretary of State may (subject to the approval of the Treasury as to numbers) appoint persons to the office of official receiver, and a person appointed to that office (whether under this section 70 of the Bankruptcy Act 1914) -
(a) shall be paid out of the money provided by Parliament such salary as the Secretary of State may with the concurrence of the Treasury direct,
(b) shall hold office on such other terms and conditions as the Secretary of State may with the concurrence of the Treasury direct, and
(c) may be removed from office by a direction of the Secretary of State.
(3) Where a person holds the office official receiver, the Secretary of State shall from time to time attach him either to the High Court or to the county court having jurisdiction for the purposes of the second Group of Parts of this Act.
(4) Subject to any directions under subsection (6) below, an official receiver attached to a particular court is the person authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to every bankruptcy or winding up falling with the jurisdiction of that court.
(5) The Secretary of State shall ensure that there is, at all times, at least one official receiver attached to the High Court and at least one attached to each county court having jurisdiction for the purposes of the second Group of Parts; but he may attach the same official receiver to two or more different courts.
(6) The Secretary of State may give directions with respect to the disposal of the business of official receivers, and such directions may, in particular -
(a) authorise an official receiver attached to one court to act as the official receiver in relation to any case or description of cases falling within the jurisdiction of another court;
(b) provide, where there is more than one official receiver authorised to act as the official receiver in relation to cases falling within the jurisdiction of any court, for the distribution of their business between or among themselves.
(7) A person who at the coming into force of section 222 of the Insolvency Act 1985 (replaced by this section) is an official receiver attached to a court shall continue in office after the coming into force of that section an official receiver attached to that court under this section.
401. Deputy official receivers and staff(1) In addition to any functions conferred on him by this Act, a person holding the office of official receiver shall carry out such other functions as may from time to time be conferred on him by the Secretary of State.
(2) In the exercise of the functions of his office a person holding the office of official receiver shall act under the general directions of the Secretary of State and shall also be an officer of the court in relation to which he exercises those functions.
(3) Any property vested in his official capacity in a person holding the office of official receiver shall, on his dying, ceasing to hold office or being otherwise succeeded in relation to the bankruptcy or winding up in question by another official receiver, vest in his successor without any conveyance, assignment or transfer.
(1) The Secretary of State may, if he thinks it expedient to do so in order to facilitate the disposal of the business of the official receiver attached to any court, appoint an officer of his department to act as deputy to that official receiver.
(2) Subject to any directions given by the Secretary of State under section 399 or 400, a person appointed to act as deputy to an official receiver has, on such conditions and for such period as may be specified in the terms of his appointment, the same status and functions as the official receiver to whom he is appointed deputy.
Accordingly, references in this Act (except section 399(1) to (5) to an official receiver include a person appointed to act as his deputy.
(3) An appointment made under subsection (1) may be terminated at any time by the Secretary of State.
(4) The Secretary of State may, subject to the approval of the Treasury as to numbers and remuneration and as to the other terms and conditions of the appointments, appoint officers of his department to assist official receivers in the carrying out of their functions.
The Official Petitioner 402. Official Petitioner
(1) There continues to be an officer known as the Official Petitioner for the purpose of discharging, in relation to cases in which a criminal bankruptcy order is made, the functions assigned to him by or under this Act; and the Director of Public Prosecutions continues, by virtue of his office, to be the Official Petitioner.
(2) The functions of the Official Petitioner include the following -
(a) to consider whether, in a case in which a criminal bankruptcy order is made, it is in the public interest that he should himself present a petition under section 264(1)(d) of this Act;
(b) to present such a petition in any case where he determines that it is the public interest for him to do so;
(c) to make payments, in such cases as he may determine, towards expenses incurred by other persons in connection with proceedings in pursuance of such a petition; and
(d) to exercise, so far as he considers it in the public interest to do so, any of the powers conferred on him by or under this Act.
(3) Any functions of the Official Petitioner may be discharged on his behalf by any person acting with his authority.
(4) Neither the Official Petitioner nor any person acting with his authority is liable to any action pr proceeding in respect of anything done or omitted to be done in the discharge, or purported discharge, of the functions of the Official Petitioner.
(5) In this section "criminal bankruptcy order" means an order under section 39(1) of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.
Insolvency Service finance, accounting and investment 403. Insolvency Services Account
404. Investment Account(1) All money received by the Secretary of State in respect of proceedings under this Act as it applies to England and Wales shall be paid into the Insolvency Services Account kept by the Secretary of State with the Bank of England; and all payments out of money standing to the credit of the Secretary of State in that account shall be made by the Bank of England in such manner as he may direct.
(2) Whenever the cash balance standing to the credit of the Insolvency Services Account is in excess of the amount which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is required for the time being to answer demands in respect of bankrupts' estates or companies' estates, the Secretary of State shall -
(a) notify the excess to the national Debt Commissioners, and
(b) pay into the Insolvency Services Investment Account ("the Investment Account") kept by the Commissioners with the Bank of England the whole or any part of the excess as the Commissioners may require for investment in accordance with the following provisions of this Part.
(3) Whenever any part of the money is so invested is, un the opinion of the Secretary of State, required to answer any demand in respect of bankrupt's estates or companies' estates, he shall notify to the National Debt Commissioners the amount so required and the Commissioners -
(a) shall thereupon repay to the Secretary of State such sum as may be required to the credit of the Insolvency Services Account, and
(b) for that purpose may direct the sale of such part of the securities in which the money has been invested as may be necessary.
405. Application of income in Investment Account; adjustment of balancesAny money standing to the credit of the Investment Account (including any money received by the National Debt Commissioners by way of interest on or proceeds of any investment under this section) may be invested by the Commissioners, in accordance with such directions as may be given by the Treasury, in any manner for the time being specified in Part II of Schedule 1 to the Trustee Investments Act 1961.
406. Interest on money received by liquidators and invested(1) Where the annual account to be kept by the National Debt Commissioners under section 409 below shows that in the year for which it is made up the gross amount of the interest accrued from the securities standing to the credit of the Investment Account exceeded the aggregate of -
(a) a sum, to be determined by the Treasury, to provide against the depreciation in the value of the securities, and
(b) the sums paid into the Insolvency Services Account in pursuance of the next section together with the sums paid in pursuance of that section to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue,
the National Debt Commissioners shall, within 3 months after the account I laid before Parliament, cause the amount of the excess to be paid out of the Investment Account into the Consolidated Fund in such manner as may from time to time be agreed between the Treasury and the Commissioners.
(2) Where the said annual account shows that in the year for which is made up the gross amount of interest accrued from the securities standing to the credit of the Investment Account was less than the aggregate mentioned in subsection (1), an amount equal to the deficiency shall, at such times as the Treasury direct, be paid out of the Consolidated Fund into the Investment Account.
(3) If the Investment Account is insufficient to meet its liabilities the Treasury may, on being informed of the insufficiency by the National Debt Commissioners, issue the amount of the deficiency out of the Consolidated Fund and the Treasury shall certify the deficiency to Parliament.
407. Unclaimed dividends and undistributed balancesWhere under rules made by virtue of paragraph 16 of Schedule 8 to this Act (investment of money received by company liquidators) a company has become entitled to any sum by way of interest, the Secretary of State shall certify that sum and the amount of tax payable on it to the National Debt Commissioners; and the Commissioners shall pay, out of the Investment Account -
(a) into the Insolvency Services Account, the sum so certified less the amount of tax so certified, and
(b) to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, the amount of tax so certified.
408. Recourse to Consolidated Fund(1) The Secretary of State shall from time to time pay into the Consolidated Fund out of the Insolvency Services Account so much of the sums standing to the credit of that Account as represents -
(a) dividends which were declared before such date as the Treasury may from time to time determine and have not been claimed, and
(b) balances ascertained before the date which are too small to be dividend among the persons entitled to them.
(2) For the purposes of this section the sums standing to the credit of the Insolvency Services Account are deemed to include any sums paid out of that Account and represented by any sums or securities standing to the credit of the Investment Account.
(3) The Secretary of State may require the National Debt Commissioners to pay out of the Investment Account into the Insolvency Services Account the whole or part of any sums which he is required to pay out of that account under subsection (1); and the Commissioners may direct the sale of such securities standing to the credit of the Investment Account as may be necessary for that purpose.
409. Annual financial statement and auditIf, after any repayment due to it from the Investment Account, the Insolvency Services Account is sufficient to meet its liabilities, the Treasury may, on being informed of it by the Secretary of State, issue the amount of the deficiency out of the Consolidated Fund, and the Treasury shall certify the deficiency to Parliament.
(1) The National Debt Commissioners shall for each year ending on 31st March prepare a statement of the sums credited and debited to the Investment Account in such form and manner as the Treasury may direct and shall transmit it to the Comptroller and Auditor General before the end of November next following the year.
(2) The Secretary of State shall for each year ending 31st March prepare a statement of the sums received or paid by him under 403 above in such form and manner as the Treasury may direct and shall transmit each statement to the Comptroller and Auditor General before the end of November next following the year.
(3) Every such statement shall include such additional information as the Treasury may direct.
(4) The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on every such statement and shall lay copies of it, and his report, before Parliament.
Supplementary 410. Extent of this Part
This part of this Act extends to England and Wales only.
General insolvency rules 411. Company insolvency rules
412. Individual insolvency rules (England and Wales)(1) Rules may be made -
for the purposes of giving effect to parts I to VII of this Act.(a) in relation to England and Wales, by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, or
(b) in relation to Scotland, by the Secretary of State,
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), or to any provision of those parts by virtue of which rules under this section may be made with respect to any matter, rules under this section may contain -
(a) any such provision as is specified in Schedule 8 to this Act or corresponds to provision contained immediately before the coming into force of section 106 of the Insolvency Act 1985 in rules made, or having effect as if made, under section 663(1) or (2) of the Companies Act (old winding-up rules), and
(b) such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.
(3) In Schedule 8 to this Act "liquidator" includes a provisional liquidator ; and references above in this section to Parts I to VII of this Act are to be read as including the Companies Act so far as relating to, and to matters connected with or arising out of, the insolvency or winding up of companies.
(4) Rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(5) Regulations made by the Secretary of State under a power conferred by rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and, after being made, shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
(6) Nothing in this section prejudices any power to make rules of court.
413. Insolvency Rules Committee(1) The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, make rules for the purposes of giving effect to Parts VIII to XI of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), or to any provision of those parts by virtue of which rules under this section may be made with respect to any matter, rules under this section may contain -
(a) any such provision as is specified in Schedule 9 to this Act or corresponds to provision contained immediately before the appointed day in rules made under section 132 of the Bankruptcy Act 1914 ; and
(b) such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor necessary or expedient.
(3) Rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4) Regulations made by the Secretary of State under a power conferred by rules under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and, after being made, shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
(5) Nothing in this section prejudices any power to make rules of court.
(1) The committee established under section 10 of the Insolvency Act 1976 (advisory committee on bankruptcy and winding-up rules) continues to exist for the purpose of being consulted under this section.
(2) The Lord Chancellor shall consult the committee before making any rules under this section 411 or 412.
(3) Subject to the next subsection, the committee shall consist of -
(a) a judge of the High Court attached to the Chancery Division;
(b) a circuit judge;
(c) a registrar in bankruptcy of the High Court;
(d) the registrar of a county court;
(e) a practising barrister;
(f) a practising solicitor; and
(g) a practising accountant;
and the appointment of any person as a member of the committee shall be made by the Lord Chancellor.
(4) The Lord Chancellor may appoint as additional members of the committee any persons appearing to him to have qualifications or experience that would be of value to the committee in considering any matter with which it is concerned.
Fees order
414. Fees order (company insolvency proceedings)415. Fees orders (individual insolvency proceedings in England and Wales)(1) There shall be paid in respect of -
(a) proceedings under any of Parts I to VIII of this Act, and
(b) the performance by the official receiver or the Secretary of State of functions under those Parts,
such fees as the competent authority may with the sanction of the Treasury by order direct.
(2) That authority is -
(a) in relation to England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor, and
(b) in relation to Scotland, the Secretary of State.
(3) The Treasury may by order direct by whom and in what manner the fees are to be collected and accounted for.
(4) The Lord Chancellor may, with the sanction of the Treasury, by order provide for sums to be deposited, by such persons, in such manner and in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, by way of security for fees payable by virtue of this section.
(5) An order under this section may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor, the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Treasury necessary or expedient.
(6) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and, after being made, shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
(7) Fees payable by virtue of this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
(8) References in subsection 91) to Parts I to VIII of this Act are to be read as including the Companies Act so far as relating to and to matters connected with or arising out of, the insolvency or winding up of companies.
(9) Nothing in this section prejudices any power to make rules of court; and the application of this section to Scotland is without prejudice to section 2 of the Courts of Law Fees (Scotland) Act 1895.
416. Monetary limits (companies winding up)(1) There shall be paid in respect of -
(a) proceedings under Parts VIII to XI of this Act, and
(b) the performance by the official receiver or the Secretary of State of functions under those Parts,
such fees as the Lord Chancellor may with the sanction of the Treasury by order direct.
(2) The Treasury may by order direct by whom and in what manner the fees are to be collected and accounted for.
(3) The Lord Chancellor may, with the sanction of the Treasury, by order provide for sums to be deposited, by such persons, in such manner and in such circumstances as may be specified in the order, by way of security for -
(a) fees payable by virtue of this section, and
(b) fees payable to any person who has prepared an insolvency practitioner's report under section 274 in Chapter I of Part IX.
(4) An order under this section may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor or, as the case may be, the Treasury, necessary or expedient.
(5) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and, after being made, shall be laid before each House of Parliament.
(6) Fees payable by virtue of this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
(7) Nothing in this section prejudices any power to make rules of court.
Specification, increase and reduction of money sums relevant in the operation of this Act
417. Money sum in section 222(1) The Secretary of State may by order in a statutory instrument increase or reduce any of the money sums for the time being specified in the following provisions in the first Group of Parts -
section 117(2) (amount of company's share capital determining whether county court has jurisdiction to wind it up);
section 120(3) (the equivalent as respects sheriff court jurisdiction in Scotland);
section 123(1)(a) (minimum debt for service of demand on company by unpaid creditor);
section 184(3) (minimum value of judgment, affecting sheriff's duties on levying execution);
section 206(1)(a) and (b) (minimum value of company property concealed or fraudulently removed, affecting criminal liability of company's officer).
(2) An order under this section may contain such transitional provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.
(3) No order under this section increasing or reducing any of the money sums for the time being specified in section 117(2), 120(3) or 123(1)(a) shall be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(4) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section, other than an order to which subsection (3) applies, is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
418. Monetary limits (bankruptcy)The Secretary of State may by regulations in a statutory instrument increase or reduce the money sum for the time being specified in section 222(1) (minimum debt for service of demand on unregistered company by unpaid creditor); but such regulations shall not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order prescribe amounts for the purposes of the following provisions in the second Group of Parts -
section 273 (minimum value of debtor's estate determining whether immediate bankruptcy order should be made; small bankruptcies level);
section 346(3) (minimum amount of judgment, determining whether amount recovered on sale of debtor's goods is to be treated as part of his estate in bankruptcy);
section 354(1) and (2) (minimum amount of concealed debt, or value of property concealed or removed, determining criminal liability under the section);
section 358 (minimum value of property taken by a bankrupt out of England and Wales, determining his criminal liability);
section 360(1) (maximum amount of credit which bankrupt may obtain without disclosure of his status);
section 361(2) (exemption of bankrupt from criminal liability for failure to keep proper accounts, if unsecured debts not more than the prescribed minimum);
section 364(2)(d) (minimum value of goods removed by the bankrupt, determining his liability to arrest);
and references in the second Group of Parts to the amount prescribed for the purposes of any of those provisions, and references in those provisions to the prescribed amount, are to be constructed accordingly.
(2) An order under this section may contain such transitional provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.
(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Insolvency practice
419. Regulations for purposes of Part XIII(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations for the purpose of giving the effect to Part XIII of this Act; and "prescribed" in that Part means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or to any provision of that Part by virtue of which regulations may be made with respect to any matter, regulations under this section may contain -
(a) provision as to the matters to be taken into account in determining whether a person is a fit and proper person to act as an insolvency practitioner;
(b) provision prohibiting a person from so acting in prescribed cases, being cases in which a conflict of interest will or may arise;
(c) provision imposing requirements with respect to -
(i) the preparation and keeping by a person who acts as an insolvency practitioner of prescribed books, accounts and other records, and
(ii) the production of those books, accounts and records to prescribed persons;
(d) provision conferring power on prescribed persons -
(i) to require any person who acts or has acted as an insolvency practitioner to answer any inquiry in relation to a case in which he is so acting or has so acted, and
(ii) to apply to a court to examine such a person or any other person on oath concerning such a case;
(e) provision making non-compliance with any of the regulations a criminal offence; and
(f) such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.
(3) Any power conferred by part XIII or this Part to make regulations, rules or orders is exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4) Any rule or regulation under Part XIII or this Part may make difference provision with respect to different cases or descriptions of cases, including different provision for different areas.
Other order-making powers
420. Insolvent partnerships421. Insolvent estates of deceased persons(1) The Lord Chancellor may, by order made with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, provide that such provisions of this Act as may be specified in the order shall apply in relation to insolvent partnerships with such modifications as may be so specified.
(2) An order under this section may make different provision for different cases and may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor necessary or expedient.
(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
422. Recognised banks, etc(1) The Lord Chancellor may, by order made with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, provide that such provisions of this Act as may be specified in the order shall apply to the administration of the insolvent estates of deceased persons with such modifications as may be specified.
(2) An order under this section may make different provision for different cases and may contain such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as may appear to the Lord Chancellor necessary or expedient.
(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4) For the purposes of this section the estate of a deceased person is insolvent if, when realised, it will be insufficient to meet in full all the debts and other liabilities to which it is subject.
(1) The Secretary of State may, by order made with the concurrence of the Treasury and after consultation with the Bank of England, provide that such provisions in the first Group of Parts as may be specified in the order shall apply in relation to authgorised institutions and former auithorised institutions within the meaning of the Banking Act 1987, with such modifications as may be so specified.
(2) An order under this section may make different provision for different cases and may contain such incidental, supplementary and transitional provisions as may appear to the Secretary of State necessary or expedient.
(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
423. Transactions defrauding creditors424. Those who may apply for an order under section 423(1) This section relates to transactions entered into at an under- value; and a person enters such a transaction with another person if -
(a) he makes a gift to the other person or he otherwise enters into a transaction with the other on terms that provide for him to receive no consideration;
(b) he enters into a transaction with the other in consideration of marriage; or
(c) he enters into a transaction with the other for a consideration the value of which, in money or money's worth, is significantly less than the value, in money or money's worth, of the consideration provided by himself.
(2) Where a person has entered into such a transaction, the court may, if satisfied under the next subsection, make such order as it thinks fit for -
(a) restoring the position to what it would have been if the transaction had not been entered into, and
(b) protecting the interests of persons who are victims of the transaction.
(3) In the case of a person entering into such a transaction, an order shall only be made if the court is satisfied that it was entered into by him for the purposes -
(a) of putting assets beyond the reach of a person who is making, or may at some time make, a claim against him, or
(b) of otherwise prejudicing the interest of such a person in relation to the claim which he is making or may make.
(4) In this section "the court" means the High Court or -
(a) if the person entering into the transaction in an individual, any other court which would have jurisdiction in relation to a bankruptcy petition relating to him;
(b) if that person is a body capable of being wound up under Part IV or V of this Act, any other court having jurisdiction to wind it up.
(5) In relation to a transaction at an undervalue, references here and below to a victim of the transaction are to a person who is, or is capable of being, prejudiced by it; and in the following two sections the persons entering into the transaction is referred to as "the debtor".
425. Provision which may be made by the order under section 423(1) An application for an order under section 423 shall not be made in relation to a transaction except -
(a) in a case where the debtor has been adjudged bankrupt or is a body corporate which is being wound up or in relation to which an administration order is in force, by the official receiver, by the trustee of the bankrupt's estate or the liquidator or administrator of the body corporate or (with the leave of the court) by a victim of the transaction;
(b) in a case where a victim of the transaction is bound by a voluntary arrangement approved under Part I or Part VIII of this Act, by the supervisor of the voluntary arrangement or by any person who (whether or not so bound) is such a victim; or
in any other case, by a victim of the transaction.
(2) An application made under any of the paragraphs of subsection (1) is to be treated as made on behalf of every victim of the transaction.
(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 423, an order made under that section with respect to a transaction may (subject as follows) -
(a) require any property transferred as part of the transaction to be vested in any person, either absolutely or for the benefit of all the persons on whose behalf the application for the order is treated as made;
(b) require any property to be so vested if it represents, in any person's hands, the application either of the proceeds of sale of property so transferred or of money so transferred;
(c) release or discharge (in whole or in part) any security given by the debtor;
(d) require any person to pay to any other person in respect of benefits received from the debtor such sums as the court may direct;
(e) provide for any surety or guarantor whose obligations to any person were released or discharged (in whole or in part) under the transaction to be under such new or revived obligations as the court thinks appropriate;
(f) provide for security to be provided for the discharge of any obligation imposed by or arising under the order, for such an obligation to be charged on any property and for such security or charge to have the same priority as a security or charge released or discharged (in whole or in part) under the transaction.
(2) An order under section 423 may affect the property of, or impose any obligation on, any person whether or not he is the person with whom the debtor entered into the transaction; but such an order -
(a) shall not be prejudiced any interest in property which was acquired from a person other than the debtor and was acquired in good faith, for value and without notice of the relevant circumstances, or prejudice any interest deriving from such an interest, and
(b) shall not require a person who received a benefit from the transaction in good faith, for value and without notice of the relevant circumstances to pay any sum unless he was a party to the transaction.
(3) For the purposes of this section the relevant circumstances in relation to a transaction the circumstances by virtue of which an order under section 423 may be made in respect of the transaction.
(4) In this section "security" means any mortgage, charge, lien or other security.
426. Co-operation between courts exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency427. Parliamentary disqualification(1) An order made by a court in any part of the United Kingdom in the exercise of jurisdiction in relation to insolvency law shall be enforced in any other part of the United Kingdom as if it were made by a court exercising the corresponding jurisdiction in that other part.
(2) However, without prejudice to the following provisions of this section, nothing in subsection (1) requires a court in any part of the United Kingdom to enforce, in relation to property situated in that part, any order made by a court in any other part of the United Kingdom.
(3) The Secretary of State, with the concurrence in relation to property situated in England and Wales of the Lord Chancellor, may by order make provision for securing that a trustee or assignee under the insolvency law of any part of the United Kingdom has, with such modifications as may be specified in the order, the same rights in relation to any property situated in another part of the United Kingdom, as he would have in the corresponding circumstances if he were a trustee or assignee under the insolvency law of that other part.
(4) The courts having jurisdiction in relation to insolvency law in any part of the United Kingdom shall assist the courts having the corresponding jurisdiction in any other part of the United Kingdom or any relevant country or territory.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) a request made to a court in any part of the United Kingdom by a court in any other part of the United Kingdom or in a relevant country or territory is authority for the court to which the request is made to apply, in relation to any matters specified in the request, the insolvency law which is applicable by either court in relation to comparable matters falling within its jurisdiction.
In exercising its discretion under this subsection, a court shall have regard in particular to the rules of private international law.
(6) Where a person who is a trustee or assignee under the insolvency law of any part of the United Kingdom claims property situated in any other part of the United Kingdom (whether by virtue of an order under subsection (3) or otherwise), the submission of that claim to the court exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency law in that other part shall be treated in the same manner as a request made by a court for the purpose of subsection (4).
(7) Section 38 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (execution of warrant of arrest throughout the United Kingdom) applies to a warrant which, in exercise of any jurisdiction in relation to insolvency law, is issued in any part of the United kingdom for the arrest of a person as it applies to a warrant issued in that part of the United Kingdom for the arrest of a person charged with an offence.
(8) Without prejudice to any power to make rules of court, any power to make provision by subordinate legislation for the purpose of giving effect in relation to companies or individuals to the insolvency law of any part of the United Kingdom includes power to make provision for the purpose of giving effect in that part to any provision made by or under the preceding provisions of this section.
(9) An order under subsection (3) shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(10) In this section "insolvency law" means -
(a) in relation to England and Wales, provision made by or under this Act or sections 6 to 10, 12, 12, 15, 19 and 20 (with schedule 1) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and extending to England and Wales;
(b) in relation to Scotland, provision extending to Scotland and made by or under this Act, sections 6 to 10, 12, 15, 19 and 20 (with schedule 1) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, part XVIII of the Companies Act or the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985;
(c) in relation to Northern Ireland, provision made by or under the Bankruptcy Acts (Northern Ireland) 1857 to 1980, Part V, VI or IX of the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960 or Part IV of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1978;
(d) in relation to any relevant country or territory, so much of the law of that country or territory as corresponds to provisions falling within any of the foregoing paragraphs;
and references in this subsection to any enactment include, in relation to any time before the coming into force of that enactment the corresponding enactment in force at that time.
(11) In this section "relevant country or territory" means -
(a) any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or
(b) any country or territory designated for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State by order made by statutory instrument.
428. Exemptions from Restrictive Trade Practices Act(1) Where a court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland adjudges an individual bankrupt or a court in Scotland awards sequestration of an individual's estate the individual is disqualified -
(a) for sitting or voting in the House of Lords,
(b) for being elected to, or sitting or voting in, the House of Commons, and
(c) for sitting or voting in a committee of either House.
(2) Where an individual is disqualified under this section, the disqualification ceases -
(a) except where the adjudication is annulled or the award recalled or reduced without the individual having been first discharged, on the discharge of the individual, and
(b) in the excepted case, on the annulment, recall or reduction, as the case may be.
(3) No writ of summons shall be issued to any lord of Parliament who is for the time being disqualified under this section for sitting and voting in the House of Lords.
(4) Where a member of the House of Commons who is disqualified under this section continues to be so disqualified until the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day of the adjudication or award, his seat shall be vacated at the end of that period.
(5) A court which makes an adjudication or award such as is mentioned in subsection (1) in relation to any lord of Parliament or member of the House of Commons shall forthwith certify the adjudication or award to the Speaker of the House of Lords or, as the case may be, to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
(6) Where a court has certified an adjudication or award to the Speaker of the House of commons under subsection (5), then immediately after it becomes apparent which of the following certificates is applicable, the court shall certify to the Speaker of the House of Commons -
(a) that the period of 6 months beginning with the day of the adjudication or award has expired without the adjudication or award having been annulled, recalled or reduced, or
(b) that the adjudication or award has been annulled, recalled or reduces before the end of that period.
(7) Subject to the preceding provisions of this section, so much of this Act and any other enactment (whenever passed) and of any subordinate legislation (whenever made) as -
(a) makes provision for or in connection with bankruptcy in one or more parts of the United Kingdom, or
(b) makes provision conferring a power of arrest in connection with the winding up of or insolvency of companies in one or more parts of the United Kingdom,
applies in relation to persons having privilege of Parliament or peerage as it applies in relation to persons not having such privilege.
429. Disabilities on revocation of administration order against an individual(1) No restriction in respect of any of the matters specified in the next subsection shall, on or after the appointed day, be regarded as a restriction by virtue of which the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 applies to any agreement (whenever made).
(2) Those matters are -
(a) the charges to be made, quoted or paid for insolvency service supplied, offered or obtained;
(b) the terms or conditions on or subject to which insolvency services are to be supplied or obtained;
(c) the extent (if any) to which, or the scale (if any) on which, insolvency services are to be made available, supplied or obtained;
(d) the form or manner in which insolvency services are to be made available, supplied or obtained;
(e) the persons or classes of persons for whom or from whom, or the areas or places in or from which, insolvency services are to be made available or supplied or are to be obtained.
(3) In this section "insolvency services" means the services of persons acting as insolvency practitioners or carrying out under the law of Northern Ireland functions corresponding to those mentioned in section 388(1) or (2) in Part XIII, in their capacity as such; and expressions which are also used in the Act of 1976 have the same meaning here as in that Act.
430. Provision introducing Schedule of punishments(1) The following applies where a person fails to make any payment which he is required to make by virtue of an administration order under Part VI of the County Courts Act 1984.
(2) The court which is administering that person's estate under the order may, if it thinks fit -
(a) revoke the administration order, and
(b) make an order directing that this section and section 12 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 19867 shall apply to the person for such period, not exceeding 2 years, as may be specified in the order.
(3) A person to whom this section so applies shall not -
(a) either alone or jointly with another person, obtain credit to the extent of the amount prescribed for the purposes of section 360(1)(a) or more, or
(b) enter into any transaction in the course of or for the purposes of any business in which he is directly or indirectly engaged,
without closing to the person from whom he obtains the credit, or (as the case may be) with whom the transaction is entered into, the fact that this section applies to him.
(4) The reference in subsection (3) to a person obtaining credit includes -
(a) a case where goods are bailed or hired to him under a hire- purchase agreement or agreed to be sold to him under a conditional sale agreement, and
(b) a case where he is paid in advance (whether in money or otherwise) for the supply of goods or services.
(5) A person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.
431. Summary proceedings(1) Schedule 10 of this Act has effect with respect to the way in which offences under this Act are punishable on conviction.
(2) In relation to an offence under a provision of this Act specified in the first column of the Schedule (the general) nature of the offence being described in the second column), the third column shows whether the offence is punishable on conviction on indictment, or on summary conviction, or either in the one way or the other.
(3) The fourth column of Schedule shows, in relation to an offence, the maximum punishment by way of fine or imprisonment under this Act which may be imposed on a person convicted of the offence in the way specified in relation to it in the third column (that is to say, on indictment or summarily) a reference to a period of years or months being to a term of imprisonment of that duration.
(4) The fifth column shows (in relation to an offence for which there is an entry in that column) that a person convicted of the offence after continued contravention is liable to a daily default fine; that is to say, he is liable on a second or subsequent conviction of the offence to the fine specified in that column for each day on which the contravention is continued (instead of the penalty specified for the offence in the fourth column of that Schedule).
(5) For the purposes of any enactment in this Act whereby an officer of a company who is in default is liable to a fine or penalty, the expression "officer who is in default" means any officer of the company who knowingly and willfully authorises or permits the default, refusal or contravention mentioned in the enactment.
432. Offences by bodies corporate(1) Summary proceedings for any offence under any of Parts I to VIII of this Act may (without prejudice to any jurisdiction exercisable apart from this subsection) be taken against a body corporate at any place at which the body has a place of business, and against any other person at any place at which he is for the time being.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in section 127(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, an information relating to such an offence which is triable by a magistrates' court in England and Wales may be so tried if it is laid at any time within 3 years after the commission of the offence and within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) to justify the proceedings comes to his knowledge.
(3) Summary proceedings in Scotland for such an offence shall not be commenced after the expiration of 3 years from the commission of the offence.
Subject to this (and notwithstanding anything in section 331 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975), such proceedings may (in Scotland) be commenced at any time within 12 months after the date on which evidence sufficient in the Lord Advocate's opinion to justify the proceedings came to his knowledge or, where such evidence was reported to him by the Secretary of State, within 12 months after the date on which it came to the knowledge of the latter; and subsection (3) of that section applies for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purpose of that section.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a certificate of the Director pf Public Prosecutions, the Lord Advocate or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) as to the date on which such evidence as is referred to above came to his knowledge is conclusive evidence.
433. Admissibility in evidence of statements of affairs, etc(1) This section applies to offences under this Act other than those excepted by subsection (4).
(2) Where a body corporate is guilty of an offence to which this section applies and the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity he, as well as the body corporate, is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(3) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (2) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.
(4) The offences excepted from this section are those under sections 30, 39, 51, 53, 54, 62, 64, 66, 85, 89, 164, 188, 201, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210 and 211.
434. Crown applicationIn any proceedings (whether or not under this Act) -
(a) a statement of affairs prepared for the purposes of any provision of this Act which is derived from the Insolvency Act 1985, and
(b) any other statement made in pursuance of a requirement imposed by or under any such provision or by or under rules made under this Act,
may be used in evidence against any person making concurring in making the statement.
For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that provisions of this Act which derive from the Insolvency Act 1985 bind the Crown so far as affecting or relating to the following matters, namely -
(a) remedies against, or against the property of, companies or individuals;
(b) priorities of debts;
(c) transactions at an undervalue or preferences;
(d) voluntary arrangements approved under Part I or Part VIII, and
(e) discharge from bankruptcy.
435. Meaning of "associate"436. Expressions used generally(1) For the purposes of this Act any question whether a person is an associate of another person is to be determined in accordance with the following provisions of this section (any provision that a person is an associate of another person being taken to mean that they are associates of each other).
(2) A person is an associate of an individual if that person is the individual's husband or wife, or is a relative, or the husband or wife of a relative, of the individual or the individual's husband or wife.
(3) A person is an associate of any person with whom he is in partnership, and of the husband or wife or a relative of any individual with whom he is in partnership; and a Scottish firm is an associate of any person who is a member of the firm.
(4) A person is an associate of any person whom he employs or by whom he is employed.
(5) A person in his capacity as trustee of a trust other than -
(a) a trust arising under any of the second Group of Parts or the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, or
(b) a pension scheme or an employees' share scheme (within the meaning of the Companies Act),
is an associate of another person if the beneficiaries of the trust include, or the terms of the trust confer a power that may be exercised for the benefit of, that other person or an associate of that other person.
(6) A company is an associate of another company -
(a) if the same person has control of both, or a person has control of one and persons who are his associates, or he and persons who are his associates, have control of the other, or
(b) if a group pf two or more persons has control of each company, and the groups either consist of the same persons or could be regarded as consisting of the same persons by treating (in one or more cases) a member of either group as replaced by a person of whom he is an associate.
(7) A company is an associate of another person if that person has control of it or if that persons who are his associates together have control of it.
(8) For the purposes of this section a person is a relative of an individual if he is that individual's brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal ancestor or lineal descendant, treating -
(a) any relationship of the half blood as a relationship of the whole blood and the stepchild or adopted child of any person as his child, and
(b) an illegitimate child as the legitimate child of his mother and reputed father;
and references in this section to a husband or wife include a former husband or wife and a reputed husband or wife.
(9) For the purposes of this section any director or other officer of a company is to be treated as employed by that company.
(10) For the purposes of this section a person is to be taken as having control of a company if -
(a) the directors of the company or of another company which has control of it (or any of them) are accustomed to act in accordance with his directions or instructions, or
(b) he is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, one third or more of the voting power at any general meeting of the company or of another company which has control of it;
and where two or more persons together satisfy either of the above conditions, they are to be taken as having control of the company.
(11) In this section "company" includes any body corporate (whether incorporated in Great Britain or elsewhere); and references to directors and other officers of a company and to voting power at any general meeting of a company have effect with any necessary modifications.
In this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires (and subject to Parts VII and XI) -
"the appointed day" means the day on which this Act comes into force under section 443;
"associate" has the meaning given by section 435;
"business" includes a trade or profession;
"the Companies Act" means the Companies Act 1985;
"conditional sale agreement" and "hire-purchase agreement" have the same meanings as the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
"modifications" includes additions, alterations and omissions and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
"property" includes money, goods, things in action, land and every description of property wherever situated and also obligations and every description of interest, whether present or future or vested or contingent, arising out of, or incidental to, property;
"records" includes computer records and other non-documentary records;
"subordinate legislation" has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978; and
"transaction" includes a gift, agreement or arrangement, and references to entering into a transaction shall be construed accordingly.
437. Transitional provisions, and savings438. RepealsThe transitional provisions and savings set out in Schedule 11 to this Act shall have effect, the Schedule comprising the following parts -
Part I: company insolvency and winding up (matters arising before appointed day, and continuance of proceedings in certain cases as before that day);
Part II: individual insolvency (matters so arising, and continuance of bankruptcy proceedings in certain cases as before that day);
Part III: transactions entered into before the appointed day and capable of being affected by orders of the court under Part XVI of this Act;
Part IV: insolvency practitioners acting as such before the appointed day; and
Part V: general transitional provisions and savings required consequentially on, and in connection with, the repeal and replacement by this Act and the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 of provisions of the Companies Act, the greater part of the Insolvency Act 1985 and other enactments.
439. Amendment of enactmentsThe enactments specified in the second column of Schedule 12 to this Act are repealed to the extent specified ion the third column of that Schedule.
440. Extent (Scotland)(1) The Companies Act is amended as shown in Parts I and II of Schedule 13 to this Act, being amendments consequential of this Act and the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
(2) The enactments specified in the first column of Schedule 14 to this Act (being enactments which refer, or otherwise relate, to those which are repealed and replaced by this Act or the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986) are amended as shown in the second column of that Schedule.
(3) The Lord Chancellor may by order make such consequential modifications of any provision contained in any subordinate legislation made before the appointed day and such transitional provisions in connection with those modifications as appear to him necessary or expedient in respect of -
(a) any reference in that subordinate legislation to the Bankruptcy Act 1914;
(b) any reference in that subordinate legislation to any enactment repealed by Part III or IV of Schedule 10 to the Insolvency Act 1985; or
(c) any reference in that subordinate legislation to any matter provided for under the Act of 1914 or under any enactment so repealed.
(4) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
441. Extent (Northern Ireland)(1) Subject to the next subsection, provisions of this Act contained in the first Group of Parts extend to Scotland except where other- wise stated.
(2) The following provisions of this Act do not extend to Scotland -
(a) in the first Group of parts -
section 43;
section 238 to 241; and
section 246;
(b) the second Group of Parts;
(c) in the third Group of Parts -
section 399 to 402,
sections 412, 413, 415, 418, 420 and 421,
section 423 to 425, and
section 429(1) and (2); and
(d) in the Schedules -
Parts II and III of Schedule 11; and Schedules 12 and 14 so far as they repeal or amend enactments which extend to England and Wales only.
442. Extent (other territories)(1) The following provisions of this Act extend to Northern Ireland -
(a) section 197, 426, 427 and 428; and
(b) so much of section 439 and Schedule 14 as relates to enactments which extend to Northern Ireland.
(2) Subject as above, and to any provision expressly relating to companies incorporated elsewhere than in Great Britain, nothing in this Act extends to Northern Ireland or applies to or in relation to companies registered or incorporated in Northern Ireland.
443. CommencementHer Majesty may, by Order in Council, direct that such of the provisions of this Act as are specified in the Order, being provisions formerly contained in the Insolvency Act 1985, shall extend to any of the Channel Islands or any colony with such modifications as may be so specified.
444. CitationThis Act comes into force on the day appointed under section 236(2) of the Insolvency Act 1985 for the coming into force of Part III of that Act (individual insolvency and bankruptcy), immediately after that Part of that Act comes into force for England and Wales.
This Act may be cited as the Insolvency Act 1986.
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