§ 54 Commander BELLAIRSasked 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. GILLETTCommunications received from the companies in question in reply to letters addressed to them on 17th July contend that the nature of the business which they carry on does not bring them within Section 2 of the Act. The validity of this contention is being investigated.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I take it that the Board of Trade have not taken any decision in their judicial capacity which will prevent the companies being prosecuted in a court of law?
§ Mr. GILLETTI understand that the Board of Trade are taking legal advice to find out what the position is.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I have an assurance before the House meets again that the Board of Trade, having certain legal rights, will not exempt these companies from any fines to which they are liable, so that proceedings can be taken in a court of law?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Minister cannot answer that question.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill the hon. Gentleman take evidence from other people and not from the companies?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe matter will be fully considered.
§ Mr. R. A. TAYLORIs it not a fact that this has been going on for 10 years—
§ Commander BELLAIRSIt will be a scandal if you let them off.
§ Mr. TAYLOR—and will the hon. Gentleman put the commercial interests of the country before any question of prosecution?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSHave not these companies competent legal advisers?
§ Mr. GILLETTI have no information on the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. R. A. Taylor).