Statutory Instruments
2014 No. 3140
Companies
Limited Liability Partnerships
Business Names
The Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2014
Approved by both Houses of Parliament
Made
26th November 2014
Laid before Parliament
27th November 2014
Coming into force
31st January 2015
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 55(1), 56(1)(b), 1194(1), 1195(1)(b) and 1292(1) of the Companies Act 2006(1) and sections 55(1), 56(1)(b) and 1292(1) of the Companies Act 2006 as applied to limited liability partnerships by regulations 8 and 81 of the Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009(2).
Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2014 and come into force on 31st January 2015.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations “the 2006 Act” means the Companies Act 2006.
(2) Any reference in these Regulations to section 55 or 88 of the 2006 Act includes a reference to that section as applied by regulation 8 or 17 of the Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009.
Specified words and expressions to which sections 55 and 1194 of the 2006 Act apply
3. The following words and expressions are specified for the purposes of sections 55(1) and 1194(1) of the 2006 Act—
(a)the words and expressions set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1;
(b)the plural and possessive forms of those words and expressions, and, where relevant, the feminine form; and
(c)in the case of the words and expressions set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 which are marked with an asterisk, the grammatically mutated forms of those words and expressions.
Specified words and expressions to which section 55 of the 2006 Act applies
4. The following words and expressions are specified for the purposes of section 55(1) of the 2006 Act—
(a)the words and expressions set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1;
(b)the plural and possessive forms of those words and expressions, and, where relevant, the feminine form; and
(c)in the case of the words and expressions set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1 which are marked with an asterisk, the grammatically mutated forms of those words and expressions.
Applications where situation of registered office or principal place of business is irrelevant
5. In connection with an application for the approval of the Secretary of State under section 55 or 1194 of the 2006 Act in relation to a name that includes a word or expression specified in column (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 2, the applicant must seek the view of the Government department or other body set out opposite that word or expression in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 2.
Applications where situation of registered office or principal place of business is relevant
6. In connection with an application for the approval of the Secretary of State under section 55 or 1194 of the 2006 Act in relation to a name that includes a word or expression specified in column (1) of Part 2 of Schedule 2, the applicant must seek the view of a Government department or other body as follows—
(a)in the case of—
(i)a company or limited liability partnership that has already been registered, whose registered office is situated in England and Wales;
(ii)a proposed company or limited liability partnership that has not yet been registered under the 2006 Act, whose registered office is to be situated in England and Wales;
(iii)a business, whose principal place of business is or is to be situated in England; and
(iv)an overseas company (see section 1044 of the 2006 Act),
the Government department or other body set out in column (2) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 opposite that word or expression;
(b)in the case of—
(i)a company or limited liability partnership that has already been registered, that is a Welsh company or Welsh LLP (see section 88 of the 2006 Act);
(ii)a proposed company or limited liability partnership that has not yet been registered, that is to be a Welsh company or Welsh LLP; and
(iii)a business, whose principal place of business is or is to be situated in Wales,
the Government department or other body set out in column (3) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 opposite that word or expression;
(c)in the case of—
(i)a company or limited liability partnership that has already been registered, whose registered office is situated in Scotland;
(ii)a proposed company or limited liability partnership that has not yet been registered, whose registered office is to be situated in Scotland; and
(iii)a business, whose principal place of business is or is to be situated in Scotland,
the Government department or other body set out in column (4) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 opposite that word or expression; and
(d)in the case of—
(i)a company or limited liability partnership that has already been registered, whose registered office is situated in Northern Ireland;
(ii)a proposed company or limited liability partnership that has not yet been registered, whose registered office is to be situated in Northern Ireland; and
(iii)a business, whose principal place of business is or is to be situated in Northern Ireland,
the Government department or other body set out in column (5) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 opposite that word or expression.
Revocation
7. The Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words and Expressions) Regulations 2009(3) are revoked.
Jo Swinson
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
26th November 2014
Regulations 3 and 4
SCHEDULE 1SPECIFIED WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
PART 1Words and Expressions specified for the purposes of sections 55(1) and 1194(1) of the 2006 Act
| Accredit |
| Accreditation |
| Accredited |
| Accrediting |
| Adjudicator |
| Association |
| Assurance |
| Assurer |
| Audit office |
| Auditor General |
| *Banc |
| Bank |
| Banking |
| Benevolent |
| *Breatannach |
| *Breatainn |
| *Brenhinol |
| *Brenin |
| *Brenhiniaeth |
| Britain |
| British |
| Chamber of commerce |
| Charitable |
| Charity |
| Charter |
| Chartered |
| Child maintenance |
| Child support |
| *Coimisean |
| *Comhairle |
| *Comisiwn |
| Commission |
| Co-operative |
| Council |
| *Cyngor |
| Dental |
| Dentistry |
| *Diùc |
| *Dug |
| Duke |
| Ei Fawrhydi |
| England |
| English |
| Federation |
| Friendly Society |
| Foundation |
| Fund |
| Government |
| *Gwasanaeth iechyd |
| Health centre |
| Health service |
| Health visitor |
| His Majesty |
| HPSS |
| HSC |
| Inspectorate |
| Institute |
| Institution |
| Insurance |
| Insurer |
| Judicial appointment |
| King |
| Licensing |
| *Llywodraeth |
| Medical centre |
| Midwife |
| Midwifery |
| *Mòrachd |
| Mutual |
| NHS |
| Northern Ireland |
| Northern Irish |
| Nurse |
| Nursing |
| Oifis sgrùdaidh |
| *Oilthigh |
| Ombudsman |
| *Ombwdsmon |
| *Parlamaid |
| Parliament |
| Parliamentarian |
| Parliamentary |
| Patent |
| Patentee |
| Police |
| Polytechnic |
| Post office |
| *Prifysgol |
| Prince |
| *Prionnsa |
| *Prydain |
| *Prydeinig |
| Queen |
| Reassurance |
| Reassurer |
| Registrar |
| Regulator |
| Reinsurance |
| Reinsurer |
| *Riaghaltas |
| *Rìgh |
| Rìoghachd Aonaichte |
| Rìoghail |
| Rìoghalachd |
| Royal |
| Royalty |
| Scotland |
| Scottish |
| Senedd |
| Sheffield |
| Siambr fasnach |
| Social service |
| Society |
| Special school |
| Standards |
| Stock exchange |
| Swyddfa archwilio |
| *Teyrnas Gyfunol |
| *Teyrnas Unedig |
| Trade union |
| Tribunal |
| Trust |
| *Tywysog |
| Underwrite |
| Underwriting |
| University |
| Wales |
| Welsh |
| Windsor |
PART 2Words and Expressions specified for the purposes of section 55(1) of the 2006 Act
| Alba |
| Albannach |
| Na h-Alba |
| *Cymru |
| *Cymraeg |
| *Cymreig |
Regulations 5 and 6
SCHEDULE 2LIST OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER BODIES WHOSE VIEWS MUST BE SOUGHT
PART 1Applications Where Situation of Registered Office or Principal Place of Business is Irrelevant
| Column (1) | Column (2) |
|---|---|
| Word or expression specified under regulation 3 | Specified Government department or other body whose view must be sought |
| Accredit | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |
| Accreditation | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |
| Accredited | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |
| Accrediting | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |
| Assurance | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Assurer | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Banc | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Bank | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Banking | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Brenhinol | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Brenin | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Brenhiniaeth | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Child maintenance | Department for Work and Pensions |
| Child support | Department for Work and Pensions |
| Dental | General Dental Council |
| Dentistry | General Dental Council |
| Diùc | The Scottish Government |
| Dug | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Ei Fawrhydi | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Friendly Society | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Fund | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Gwasanaeth iechyd | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Health visitor | Nursing & Midwifery Council |
| HPSS | Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety |
| HSC | Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety |
| Insurance | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Insurer | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Judicial appointment | Ministry of Justice |
| Llywodraeth | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Medical centre | Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety |
| Midwife | Nursing & Midwifery Council |
| Midwifery | Nursing & Midwifery Council |
| Mòrachd | The Scottish Government |
| Mutual | Financial Conduct Authority |
| NHS | Department of Health |
| Nurse | Nursing & Midwifery Council |
| Nursing | Nursing & Midwifery Council |
| Oifis sgrùdaidh | Audit Scotland |
| Oilthigh | The Scottish Government |
| Parlamaid | The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body |
| Parliament | The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords and The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons |
| Parliamentarian | The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords and The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons |
| Parliamentary | The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords and The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons |
| Patent | The Patent Office |
| Patentee | The Patent Office |
| Polytechnic | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills |
| Prifysgol | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Prionnsa | The Scottish Government |
| Reassurance | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Reassurer | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Reinsurance | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Reinsurer | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Riaghaltas | The Scottish Government |
| Rìgh | The Scottish Government |
| Rìoghail | The Scottish Government |
| Rìoghalachd | The Scottish Government |
| Senedd | The National Assembly for Wales |
| Sheffield | The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire |
| Swyddfa archwilio | Auditor General for Wales |
| Tywysog | The Welsh Assembly Government |
| Underwrite | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Underwriting | Financial Conduct Authority |
PART 2Applications Where Situation of Registered Office or Principal Place of Business is Relevant
| Column (1) | Column (2) | Column (3) | Column (4) | Column (5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word or expression specified under regulation 3 | Specified Government department or other body whose view must be sought | |||
| under regulation 6(a) | under regulation 6(b) | under regulation 6(c) | under regulation 6(d) | |
| Audit office | Comptroller & Auditor General | Auditor General for Wales | Audit Scotland | Northern Ireland Audit Office |
| Charitable Charity | The Charity Commission | The Charity Commission | Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | The Charity Commission |
Duke His Majesty King Prince Queen Royal Royalty Windsor | Ministry of Justice | The Welsh Assembly Government | The Scottish Government | Ministry of Justice |
Health centre Health service | Department of Health | The Welsh Assembly Government | The Scottish Government | Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety |
| Police | The Home Office | The Home Office | The Scottish Government | Department of Justice in Northern Ireland |
| Special school | Department for Education | The Welsh Assembly Government | The Scottish Government | Department of Education |
| University | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills | The Welsh Assembly Government | The Scottish Government | Department for Employment and Learning |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Under sections 55(1) and 1194(1) of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”), including section 55(1) as applied to limited liability partnerships (“LLPs”) by regulation 8 of the Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1804), a person must obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to register a company or LLP by a name, or carry on business in the United Kingdom under a name, that includes a word or expression that is specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.
Part 1 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations sets out which words and expressions are specified by the Secretary of State as requiring prior approval for use in the names of companies, LLPs and businesses, and Part 2 of Schedule 1 sets out words and expressions that the Secretary of State is specifying as requiring prior approval when used in the names of companies or LLPs only.
Regulations 3(1)(b) and (c) and 4(b) and (c) provide that the specified words and expressions are specified in all their plural, possessive and (where relevant) feminine forms, and, in the case of Gaelic and Welsh words, in their grammatically mutated forms.
Sections 56(1) and 1195(1) of the Act, including section 56(1) as applied to LLPs, give the Secretary of State the power to require that, in connection with an application for use of a sensitive word or expression, the applicant must seek the view of a specified Government department or other body. Schedule 2 lists the Government departments and other bodies whose views must be sought. Part 2 of Schedule 2 identifies the relevant Government department or public authority whose view must be sought where the situation of the company’s or LLP’s registered office is relevant. The reference in regulation 6(a)(i) to a registered office which is situated in England and Wales arises because England and Wales are usually treated in the Act as a single jurisdiction for the purposes of the situation of the registered office. However, a company whose registered office is situated in Wales can require the register of companies to state that its registered office is situated in Wales. In this case, the company will be governed by regulation 6(b)(i) rather than regulation 6(a)(i). The position is similar for an LLP whose registered office is situated in Wales. Since overseas companies are not required by the Overseas Companies Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1801) to register in a specified part of the United Kingdom, they are treated for the purposes of regulation 6 in the same way as companies registered in England and Wales.
An Impact Assessment in respect of these Regulations has been produced and copies are available from the Business Environment Directorate, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET or on www.bis.gov.uk.
S.I. 2009/1804, amended by S.I. 2009/2995; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.