Part 1: Companies House Reform General offences and enforcement Section 103: False statement offences: national security, etc defence
This section amends the Companies Act 2006, by amending section 1059A(2) and inserting new section 1112B.
	New section 1112B provides a defence to the commission of an act that would otherwise be an offence, relating to the delivery of false, misleading or deceptive information to the Registrar.
	Subsection (1) provides that the Secretary of State may issue a certificate to a person, the effect of which is that the person is not liable for the commission of any offence relating to the delivery to the Registrar of a document that is false, misleading or deceptive or making a statement to the Registrar that is false, misleading or deceptive.
	Subsection (2) provides that the Secretary of State may only issue such a certificate if satisfied that the conduct amounting to such offence as described in subsection (1) is necessary in the interests of national security or for the prevention or detection of serious crime. Subsection (3) provides that the Secretary of State may revoke a certificate at any time.
	Subsection (4) defines the meaning of "serious crime" for the purposes of subsection (2). It explains that "crime" means conduct that is a criminal offence, or would be a criminal offence if it took place in any one part of the United Kingdom. It is "serious crime" if it would lead, on conviction, to a maximum prison sentence of three years or more, or if the conduct involves the use of violence, results in substantial financial gain, or is conduct by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose.
	This section also makes a consequential amendment to section 1059A by inserting a reference to new section 1112B.