§ 2. Mr. Bellengerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he has considered the reports or Sir William McLintock on his investigations into the affairs of the companies comprising the Great Boulder and the Commonwealth group of gold-mining companies; and whether he intends to refer these reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions under Section 136 (1) (i) of the Companies Act, 1929?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Major Lloyd George)I am not prepared to make any further statement on this matter at present. The reports have been available to shareholders for only a week, and until they have had an opportunity to study them in detail I cannot say what action it will be possible to take.
§ Mr. BellengerHas my hon. and gallant Friend personally studied these reports, and is he aware that there is 1803 considerable anxiety among the shareholders of these companies, who are looking to the Board of Trade to take some action to protect their future interests, even if not to protect their past interests?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI have studied the reports, and I would point out that it was mainly through the Board's action that they were made available to the shareholders.
§ Mr. Robert GibsonWhat length of time constitutes an opportunity?