§ 42. Mr. Maxton(for Mr. McGovern) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the many libels on public men made by the British Union of Fascists in its paper "Action" and other publications, and that when court action is taken and favourable decisions given against this organisation or paper the procedure is to go bankrupt in order to prevent the law from being carried out; and will he take steps to amend the law with a view to putting an end to such practices?
§ Captain WallaceI am aware that there have been certain libel actions against companies connected with the British Union of Fascists; but the only case known to the Board of Trade in which the company concerned has gone into liquidation is that of British Union of Fascist Publications, Limited, against which damages were awarded in November, 1936. In that case, however, the petition for a winding-up order was made by the successful plaintiffs themselves, and not by the company. I am aware of no amendment of the law which would ensure that a successful plaintiff in a similar case would obtain payment in full of damages awarded to him by the Court.