HC Deb 23 November 1916 vol 87 cc1572-3
54. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken any further action in regard to the London Emery Works Company, Limited, owned by a German named Seligmann, which is a branch of a German company: whether a supervisor has been in existence for nearly a year; whether Government work is still being done; what the profits have been; and whether the time has now come to wind up the business under the Trading With the Enemy Act?

Mr. PRETYMAN

The necessary vesting orders are being prepared to enable the Public Trustee to sell the business of the London Emery Works, Limited, and give a good title to a purchaser. The business has been carried on under supervision since February, 1915, and the company is a controlled establishment. No profits were made for the year 1915.

Sir E. CARSON

Why was not the order made before?

Mr. PRETYMAN

A controller was put in after the Act was passed.

Sir E. CARSON

Why has not the Board of Trade taken before this the step which it has now taken?

Mr. PRETYMAN

I will look into that. There are some hundreds of firms to deal with, and they could not all be dealt with at once.