Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 20, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:

"(i) that the beneficial owners of the body corporate have not been identified by the applicant, or that such information has not been verified on oath or affirmation,".

I raised this matter during the Second Stage debate. It can be difficult to ascertain the beneficial owners of companies from the details provided by companies. It could happen that people behind the scenes who have records that are unacceptable could creep through because they have set up a company to hide them. I accept that is not the case in the vast majority of companies. This proposal does not impose a requirement, as initially suggested, to show the beneficial owners, but would allow the authority, if it is satisfied that this information is not available, to refuse to grant a licence, which would be an important power for it to have.