§ 29. Mr. WILMOTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of public companies which at 20th April, 1934, had not complied with Sections 109 and 110 of the Companies Act, 1929, in respect of the year 1933; and will he state what steps the solicitor to the Board of Trade has taken to improve the machinery by which more punctual observance of this Section of the Act may be obtained?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe number of these companies in default on 20th April in respect of the statutory requirements referred to by the hon. Member was 190. Companies to which Sections 109 and 110 of the Companies Act apply are companies not having a share capital and practically all are companies not trading for profit. About half of them are incorporated by licence under Section 18 of the Act under terms which enable the Board to secure 141 due compliance with requirements, and the remainder come within the scope of the general arrangements introduced to expedite the furnishing of annual returns by public companies.
§ Mr. WILMOTCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the authorities concerned will take active steps to see that the Act is complied with?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere has been a very great improvement in regard to the lodging of returns in the last two years.