27. Mr. Restasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the public companies into which his Department has conducted an inquiry under Section 165 of the Companies Act since it was enacted in 1948; and which reports resulting from such an inquiry, where application to appoint inspectors has come from the company's board and shareholders after the passing of a special resolution, have not been made public.
§ Sir J. EdenIn answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant) on 18th October. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "None".—[Vol. 823, c. 30–1.]
§ Mr. RostDoes not that answer confirm that if the Department's inquiry into Rolls-Royce is not made public, it will create a precedent? In view of the conflict of evidence which has recently been given to the Select Committee by different directors of Rolls-Royce, will not the anxiety and uncertainty in the public mind be aggravated unless this report is made public?
§ Sir J. EdenI will certainly consider what my hon. Friend says in the light of the report when it is available. But 930 the practice of publishing such information was stopped in order to avoid unfavourable publicity for particular companies when the circumstances might not then have justified it.