HC Deb 08 December 1953 vol 521 cc1785-6
17. Mr. Bellenger

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to amend the Companies Act, 1948, to prohibit anonymous shareholdings by nominee companies.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I see no sufficient grounds for proposing such an amendment at the present time.

Mr. Bellenger

Is it not anomalous that public money has to be spent to find out who are the stockholders in certain companies? Is there not a danger to the public interest from the inflationary effect caused by anonymous speculators?

Mr. Thorneycroft

This matter was fully debated in Parliament when the Act was introduced as a Bill by the previous Government.