§ 24. Mr. WATTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the authorities of Somerset House have intimated to correspondents that the shares of the firm of Suter, Hartman, and Rahtjens, Limited, are largely held by Germans residing in Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven; that this firm are at present supplying the composition for His Majesty's ship "Grafton," now in Govan Graving Dock, and also for submarines in other ports of Scotland, and whether he will take any action in this matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is known that certain shares are held by alien enemies, but under the Trading with the Enemy Act no payment can legally be made during the War to enemy aliens abroad. The directors are now British, and inquiries were made by the Home Office at the request of the Admiralty into the nationality of the staff and workpeople, with satisfactory results. It may be pointed out that the companies who supply compositions do not apply them, and are not therefore brought into contact with the Navy or dockyards. It is considered that all suitable precautions have 1295 been taken, but the Admiralty are in communication with the Board of Trade as to appointment of an inspector, if necessary, under the Trading with the Enemy Act.
§ Mr. WATTWould the right hon. Gentleman find out what proportion of these shares are held by foreigners?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot recall for the moment, but we have gone into all these things carefully.