§ 15 Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether there are purely British firms able and ready to produce sufficient quantities of goods of the same nature and quality as the goods manufactured by the German firm trading as the Armourduct Manufacturing Company; and, if this be so, why is this alien enemy firm continued in existence; (2) whether he will give an assurance to this House that the offer of Mr. Small, or Schmahl, the former manager and nominee of the German owners, or any revised offer made by him for the purchase of the assets of the Armourduct Manufacturing Company shall not be accepted until every effort has been made to dispose of the property to a British- born subject; what is the difficulty in offering the works and business as a going concern by public, auction with proper conditions as to the completion of the Government work now in hand; (3) in what respect the business carried on by the German-owned firm, under the name of the Armourduct Manufacturing Company, differed or differs from other German businesses which have now been wound up or sold by auction, or are in process of being so dealt with, but which were also engaged upon Government work; whether the Isleworth Rubber Company was such a firm so engaged in 629 the case of which the business has been wound up and the assets sold by public auction; and will he explain why a different course has been taken with regard to the Armourduct Manufacturing Company?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe supervisor of the Armourduct Manufacturing Company, Limited, is at present in communication with several British firms with the view of obtaining offers for the business and pending the result of the negotiations I am unable to say what consideration will be given to the offer made by Mr. Small. The difficulty in offering the business for sale by auction is that it is necessary that the purchaser should continue the business satisfactorily. The difference between the Armourduct Manufacturing Company and the Isleworth Rubber Company is that the Armorduct Company is manufacturing articles which are required by the War Office and Ministry of Munitions of War in the national interest and the supply of which might have been diminished by closing the company's business, and the Isle-worth Company was not manufacturing at all.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the hon. Gentleman take care that this business shall be sold to a British-born subject?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI will bear that in mind. It is under the usual regulations that it shall be sold to a British subject and remain under British control.
§ Mr. BILLINGWhat will happen to the profits that this firm is now making out of the British Government?
§ Mr. PRETYMANAny part of the profits that would go to the enemy are vested in the Public Trustee, and any part of the profits that would go to British subjects are taken by them.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the hon. Gentleman state what happens to the profits when the Public Trustee gets hold of them?