§ 116. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the President of the Board of Trade how many enemy alien companies are now under control or supervision, and how many have been entirely wound up?
§ Mr. PRETYMAN275 businesses are under control or supervision in addition to 330 cases in which orders have been made requiring the businesses to be wound up and three cases in which orders have been made prohibiting the carrying on of business. The winding-up cannot be regarded as completed until the controller has submitted his final accounts and has been granted his release, and no case has yet reached this stage; but in a large number of cases the realisation of the assets has been completed apart from the collection of outstanding book debts.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSCan the hon. gentleman give me figures of the large number of cases—how many have been completed?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI said that in a large number of cases the assets have been realised apart from the collection of the outstanding book debts.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSHow many cases?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI could give figures, but there is every kind of gradation of realisation. These matters are necessarily spread over a long period before all the assets can be got in and all the debts can be paid.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSI only want to know how many cases are covered by the words "a large number of cases."
§ Mr. PRETYMANI will try to get the figures.
§ Sir C. HENRYHas the Board of Trade any supervision over the controllers, and are they satisfied that they are doing their work as efficiently as possible?
§ Mr. PRETYMANYes, certainly we are satisfied that they are doing their work as efficiently as possible.