§ 18. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state on what date the 24 per cent. of the share capital in Messrs. Holzapfels, Limited, held on the 18th October, 1916, by two naturalised British subjects of enemy birth was transferred to British-born subjects, also the names of the British-born subjects; and what relationship, if any, existed between the transferors and the transferees of the shares in question?
Sir A. STANLEYThe shares referred to have been transferred this year, and, as the majority have been sold in small lots to numerous purchasers, it is not possible to give the exact dates and names of the purchasers without a considerable amount of labour. The 89,856 shares formerly belonging to Max Holzapfel were transferred to persons who were not connected with his family. Of the 22,410 shares belonging to A. C. A. Holzapfel, 17,885 were transferred to eight persons who are his children, and one person who is his son-in-law. Their names are Ward, May, and Aston, the name of Holzapfel having been changed to Ward. At the present time the capital of £450,000 is distributed among about 1,200 shareholders, and I should be pleased to show my hon. Friend a list.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if any precautions have been taken to prevent these shares from being retransferred back again after the War is over?
Sir A. STANLEYI shall be very glad to make inquiries, and if the hon. Member will put down a question I will give him an answer.
§ 36. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Minister of Munitions whether any priority permits were granted in 1917 to Messrs. Holzapfels, Limited, for copper or other raw material; if so, the dates and amounts of materials granted per month or otherwise; and whether any of the permits were granted with the approval either of the Admiralty or of the Board of Trade?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)During 1917 Messrs. Holzapfels 678 were granted the usual stock permits enabling them to order materials for use upon ships and floating craft only. The materials procured are ingredients for paint and compositions for fishing vessels, trawlers, and ships' bottoms. The permit is issued on condition that all orders and all supplies ex such orders shall previously be certified as approved by the local Board of Trade surveyor. The firm also holds the usual repair and maintenance permit for spare and repair parts. Those permits have been arranged in consultation with the Admiralty, and are subject to the supervision of the Board of Trade surveyors.