HC Deb 08 June 1931 vol 253 cc593-4
9. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the agency company that has been registered in India for the purpose of buying and exporting stocks of boycotted cloth is a private or public company; if the latter, whether the public in India are to be invited to subscribe capital and who are the directors?

23. Mr. REMER

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can state whether British cloth has actually been re-exported by the Foreign Piece Goods Export Company, Limited, from India; and, if so, will he state the quantity and to what countries this cloth has been re-exported?

Mr. BENN

The Company is a public company. No shares have so far been offered for public subscription. I am circulating a list of the directors. The company has not yet acquired any stocks for re-exportation.

Following are the directors:

Sir Ness Wadia and

Messrs. F. E. Dinshaw,

S. D. Saklatwala,

H. P. Mody,

Lalji Naranji,

Chimanlal G. Parekh,

Kasturbhai Lalbhai,

Ambalal Sarabhai,

Trikamlal Girdharlal,

Devidas H. Shah,

G. D. Birla,

Sakarlal Balabhai and

Shankar Lal Banker.

Mr. REMER

Are we to understand that no stocks have yet been exported at all?

Mr. BENN

As the company has not secured any stocks for exportation, the natural inference would be that no stocks have yet been re-exported.

Mr. REMER

In view of the importance of this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman keep the House fully informed as to what is happening?

Mr. BENN

I have given to the House repeatedly, in answer to questions, ah the information which I could secure, and of course I shall continue to do so.

Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say if the five lakhs have been subscribed?

Mr. BENN

Yes, I believe that the five lakhs referred to in my answer have been subscribed.

Mr. REMER

Have they been subscribed by the Bombay mill-owners?