HC Deb 18 November 1908 vol 196 cc1223-4
MR. W. E. HARVEY (Derbyshire, N.E.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Mansfield division of Nottinghamshire, I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been directed to recent legal proceedings where one E. T. Hooley, of Nottingham, an undischarged bankrupt, was shown to be having large financial transactions in the name of his wife; will he say if he has any powers to prevent an undischarged bankrupt evading the bankruptcy law in this manner; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir W. ROBSON,) South Shields

I have received a communication from the solicitor to Mr. Hooley, in which he categorically denies the assertions contained in this Question. He adds that they appear to be founded on ex parte statements made in some litigation to which neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hooley was a party. However, as neither the solicitor nor my hon. friend could give me the date or particulars, I have not been able to learn much about it. If my hon. friend will be good enough to send me an authentic report of the statements on which he relies, I will see what can and should be done.

MR. ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)

asked whether the solicitor denied that Mr. Hooley was an undischarged bankrupt.

SIR W. ROBSON

I do not think the solicitor would deny that.

MR. RICHARDSON (Nottingham, S.)

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that Mr. Hooley is not of Nottingham, but a native of the same county as the hon. Member in whose name the Question appears on the Paper?

[No Answer was returned.]