§ 50. Mr. THURTLEasked the Prime Minister if the Government are prepared to give facilities during the present Session for legislation to amend existing company law in order to make it illegal 42 for any person to serve on the directorate of a public company unless such person has practical experience of the business of the company?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe law relating to companies was amended last Session by the Companies Act, 1928. There will be no opportunity of introducing a Bill further to amend the law on the subject this Session.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the Prime Minister aware that quite recently he expressed himself strongly as to the desirability of British industry getting rid of these purely decorative directors?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI agree that it would be as difficult to describe the qualifications of a director in an Act of Parliament as it would be to describe the qualifications of a Member of Parliament.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that none of his most popular recently-made statements has achieved an equal popularity with his last statement on the question of directorships; and before the next election could the Prime Minister not at least implement that idea?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have already pointed out the difficulties to my right hon. and gallant Friend.