Friend the Attorney-General last year, I confirm that in my view the amendments to the Companies Act 1985 proposed in the order are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The order has been laid under the affirmative resolution procedure in accordance with the memorandum that I submitted to Parliament in January, in which I said that the Government envisaged that the first order would be subject to an affirmative resolution, but that other orders would usually be subject to the negative resolution. The Committee will wish to note that my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning proposes to lay an order later this month to amend the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 for the purpose of allowing electronic communication between the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and local authorities on housing reserve account subsidy determinations and decisions. As no major issues of principle are raised by the DETR order, my hon.
Friend proposes to make it subject to the negative resolution procedure.
That will enable it to come into force in time for the annual determination of housing revenue account subsidy. That order is likely to be made, and it could therefore come into force before this one. The order was widely welcomed by companies when it was issued for consultation earlier this year. Companies believe that it will assist them to reduce costs and to improve their communications with shareholders. The order is a good example of how section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 can be used to reduce burdens on companies and individuals while improving the service that they provide or receive.