§ 43. Major HUNTasked whether any manufacturing concerns belonging to enemies in this country have been prohibited or wound-up since the War started; and what are the names of the thirty-seven enemy businesses referred to in the Advisory Committee's Report which are being permitted without interference to continue to trade and make profits during the War?
Mr. HARCOURTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not at present prepared to publish the names of the businesses referred to in respect of which no Order has been made, but I shall be pleased to show the hon. and gallant Member a list of those businesses.
§ Major HUNTCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many manufacturing concerns belonging to enemies in this country have been prohibited or wound-up since the War began?
Mr. HARCOURTI do not carry the figures in my head. I will supply the hon. Member with them if he desires.
§ 44. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the super visor or controller of an enemy business has any power to control or restrict the profits made by that business in this country during the War; and, seeing that the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, limits the authority of the Board of Trade to three specific steps in 2056 regard to enemy businesses, namely, prohibition, winding-up, or sale after a vesting in the Public Trustee, will he say-under what authority the Board of Trade have permitted thirty-seven enemy businesses to continue to trade and manufacture in this country in competition with British concerns during the War?
Mr. HARCOURTThe duties of a supervisor of an enemy business are to see that no trading with the enemy takes place, but he does not restrict the profits made. The powers of a controller appointed by the Court depend on the terms of the Order and, in some cases, he has full control of the conduct of the business. The businesses referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question have been permitted to continue trading in accordance with Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, the Advisory Committee having come to the conclusion, after investigating the circumstances of each case, that for special reasons it was inexpedient to make any Order with regard to those businesses.
§ Major HUNTWill the right hon. Gentleman say, in reference to the first part of the question, whether an enemy business can make any amount of profit-in this country during the War?
§ Major HUNTTo whom does it pass?