HC Deb 20 July 1916 vol 84 cc1184-5
63. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a White Paper giving a list, with all proper particulars, of the firms and companies which the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade have dealt with under the recent Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, and stating in each case whether the firm or company has been ordered to be wound up or has been permitted to carry on business, with the reasons for so doing, or has been otherwise dealt with?

Mr. HARCOURT

A summary of the cases dealt with by the Advisory Committee under the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, has now been presented. The names of the firms or companies as to which an Order has been made under Section I of the Act are published in the "Gazette" and have been laid before this House, but I do not think it desirable to publish a list of cases in which no such Order is made. If my hon. Friend desires to know the particulars of any individual cases I shall be happy to communicate them to him.

Mr. BUTCHER

Would it not be much more convenient to Members of this House and the outside public to have a complete, list of these firms and companies instead of hunting through some dozens of numbers of the "Gazette"?

Mr. HARCOURT

I think I can explain to the hon. Member in private why the present course is the most desirable.