§ MR. BOTTOMLEYI beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he is aware of the growing practice of registering joint stock companies in Guernsey, for the purpose of carrying on business in England, thus avoiding the stamp duty payable upon English registration, and also depriving the shareholders of the protection afforded by various companies Acts passed in recent years and which have not been adopted by the island; and whether he is prepared to advise His Majesty's Government to take any action in the matter.
§ *MR. GLADSTONEI beg to answer this Question on behalf of my hon. friend. The practice of registering joint stock companies in the Island of Guernsey is not a growing, but a rapidly declining one, as appears from the figures given in the 15th Report of the Board of Trade, under Section 39 of the Companies (Winding up) Act of 1890, page 7. The matter has been dealt with by the Insular Legislature, which has drafted a Projet de Loi, now under consideration. The subject is also being considered by the Treasury and the Board of Trade in connection with the Report of the Departmental Committee on Company Law Amendment recently issued.