§ 11. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of public companies which on 14th June were still in default in their obligation to lodge annual accounts and balance sheets?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe number of cases still outstanding on 14th June was 132.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to take any action with regard to the defaulting companies?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWe had brought them down to 2,600 about the middle of February. Prosecutions started at the beginning of May, and the number has been very greatly reduced, but I ought to add that in that number there are many companies which are not really "companies" in the ordinary sense, but are little businesses under a one-man ownership and things of that kind.
§ Mr. THORNEHas the right hon. Gentleman the same power to deal with these companies as the Registrar has to deal with trade unions which do not send in returns?