HC Deb 22 July 1924 vol 176 cc1091-2
10. Mr. REMER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the misleading name adopted by the firm known as British Progress, Limited, of which eight-ninths of the ordinary shares are held by an unnaturalised Russian who is one of the three directors, the second director being a naturalised British subject of Lithuanian origin, and the third a naturalised United States citizen of Russian origin; and whether he proposes to take any action under Section 14 of the Registration of Business Names Act of 1916, or otherwise?

Mr. WEBB

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Section 14 of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, does not apply to companies registered under the Companies Acts, nor have the Board of Trade any power to take action in a case of this kind. But the Company Law Amendment Committee, under the Chairmanship of Lord Wrenbury, who reported in 1918, made certain recommendations in paragraph 37 of their report (Cd. 9138) with a view to conferring additional powers on the Registrar, and these recommendations will be considered when the next revision of the Companies Acts is undertaken.

Mr. REMER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this All-British Company is now dealing in aeroplanes, and will he take steps, owing to the great danger that may exist on this point, to have this matter fully looked into?

Mr. WEBB

I will have it looked into, but at present I do not see the great danger.