§ MR. RICHARD MARTIN (Worcester, Droitwich)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the assets of the Liberator Building Society, the House and Lands Investment Trust, and the Lands Allotment Company were transferred in July 1895, to the United Realisation Company by order of the Bankruptcy Court; whether the fees payable thereon to, and claimed by, the Board of Trade have been ascertained; and, if so, what is the amount thereof; if not, if he can state any reason for the exceptional delay, and whether the fees include the expenses of the special manager appointed and of the staff employed by him?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe scheme under which the assets of the Companies mentioned were sold to the United Realisation Company was sanctioned by the Court on 22nd June 1895, but, owing, to objections raised by that Company, the transfer of the various properties has not yet been completed. The final settlement, of the fees due to the Board of Trade has been a matter of considerable difficulty, owing to the complicated nature of the transactions. It is now awaiting the completion of certain accounts by the United Realisation Company. The fees chargeable will be exclusive of the expenses of the Special manager and his staff.