HC Deb 21 July 1931 vol 255 cc1232-3
24 Commander BELLAIRS

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in view of the fact that Russian Oil Products, Limited, the Central Association of Flax Growers, Limited, Black Sea and Baltic General Insurance Company, Limited, Centrosoyos, Limited, Anglo-Soviet Shipping Company, Limited, the Moscow Narodny Bank, Limited, and the White Sea Timber Trust, Limited, have no diplomatic immunity, whether it is intended to prosecute them for not having complied with the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, Section 2;

(2) in view of the fact that Section 7, Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, imposes a fine of five pounds on every partner of the firm for every day of default in registration of names and particulars, whether he can state what is the total fine that the directors of the companies acting as general agents for Soviet Russia have made themselves liable for through failure to comply with the Act of Parliament in regard to registration;

(3) how many of the companies acting as general agents for Soviet Russia have failed to comply with the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, Section 2; whether the matter has been the subject of any correspondence; and, if so, on what date?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

I cannot at present add anything to the answer which my hon. Friend gave the hon. and gallant Member on 15th July.

Commander BELLAIRS

Can the right hon. Gentleman enlighten us as to when he will be able to give an answer; and will he bear in mind my extreme anxiety to get an answer before the holidays?

Mr. GRAHAM

I think I have already indicated, or, at all events, I indicate now, that this raises certain legal questions. Under Section 2 of the Act, inquiries have been addressed to these companies, and I will lose no time, but it is difficult to specify a date.

Commander BELLAIRS

Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that a common informer may act in the meantime?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is it not the case that only the Board of Trade can initiate prosecutions under this Act?

Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Act was brought into force for the specific purpose of dealing with cases of this kind?

Mr. GRAHAM

That may be so, but I have already informed the House that I am making inquiries under Section 2 of the Act.

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