§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the counsel whose advice is to be placed at the service of the Official Receiver and liquidator of the Birkbeck Bank will be the Law Officers of the Crown?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)It is not the practice for the Official Receiver when acting as liquidator to a company to ask the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown in matters relating to the recovery of assets for the benefit of creditors and shareholders, and I do not consider that any departure from the usual course is necessary in the case of the Birkbeck Permanent Benefit Building Society.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYWill the hon. Gentleman consult the President of the Board of Trade as to whether, in view of the decision of one of the judges of the High Court, that the whole business has been practically illegal from its conception, and, having regard to the widespread losses entailed, the Law Officers of the Crown might not be consulted?
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSONI will lay that matter before the President of the Board of Trade.