§ 12. Mr. McENTEE forasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the report by his Department upon the affairs of the St. Mary's Shipping Company, Cardiff, is still denied to shareholders; whether, in view of the provisions of the Companies Act for the protection of shareholders, he will state what action is taken by his Department when an inspector of the Board of Trade reports upon any particular company; and whether in future any such report will be made available to Members of the House of Commons and to shareholders of the company concerned?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA complaint in the sense of the first part of the question has been made to me. A copy of the report of an inspector appointed by the Board of Trade to investigate the affairs of a company in the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers is sent to the company concerned and to the applicants at whose request the investigation is ordered. A copy is also sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions where it is considered necessary under Section 136 of the Companies Act. As the hon. Member was informed yesterday, this has been done in regard to the report made on the affairs of the St. Mary's Shipping Company, Cardiff, and I have no authority to direct that the report shall be made available to other persons.