HC Deb 14 June 1911 vol 26 cc1514-5
Mr. JOHN WARD

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) Whether the annual Returns of public companies to his Department contain the names of the chairman, vice-chairman, and directors, with the remuneration of salary paid to such persons; and, if so, whether he will give details for 1909 and 1910 of such payments in each case of the Aldridge Colliery Company, Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company, Gloucester Railway Carriage and Waggon Company, Great Western Railway Company, West London Extension Railway Company, Legeh Concessions Syndicate, Limited, Metropolitan Bank of England and Wales, and Messrs. Baldwins, Limited; (2) Whether the annual Returns of public companies to his Department contain the names of their chairman, vice-chairman, and directors, with the amount of the remuneration or salary paid to such persons; whether he will give details for 1909 and 1910 of such payments in each case of the African City Properties Trust, Limited, Atbassar Copper Fields, Limited, Manitoba Mortgage and Investment Company, Siberian Syndicate, Limited, Spassky Copper Mine, Limited, and Whitehall Court, Limited?

Mr. BUXTON

The annual returns of public companies to the Board of Trade do not contain the remuneration or salary paid to the chairman, vice-chairman, and directors, and I am consequently unable to give the details asked for.

Mr. J. WARD

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us information in connection with directorships, as to whether one of the emoluments is a free pass over railways?

Mr. BUXTON

I think that is the rule. Though I cannot say, I believe it is so.

Mr. J. WARD

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries of the hon. Member for the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire, and will he also ask the hon. Member for—

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

Order, order. That does not arise out of the question.

Mr. MacVEAGH

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give the remuneration received by the directors, may I ask whether it is possible for his Department to compile from its records the names of Members of this House who use their position as Members to become professional company promoters?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER

That also does not arise out of the question.

Mr. MacVEAGH

The right hon. Gentleman said he could not give the remuneration. I want to know whether he can give the names of those Members, and how many of them are opposed to payment of Members.