§ 63. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Board of Admiralty is still the responsible Department in regard to the large investment which was made in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company prior to the War; and, in view of the fact that no statement has been made since 1914 as to the progress of the undertaking, whether he can cause one to be made now?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe interests of the Government in the undertaking are represented by the two ex-officio directors nominated respectively by the Admiralty and the Treasury. Accounts of the company's progress are given in their annual reports and in the speeches of the chairman to the shareholders, which have been published from time to time in ordinary course.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMy right hon. Friend refers me to the report of a private company. Will he not imitate the report of the two Suez Canal Directors and call for a report from these two directors, seeing the large sum of money involved?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI will consider whether it is desirable.