§ Mr. HENRY TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the Board of Trade have, under Section 2 (2) of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1914, appointed an authority to inspect the books of and otherwise control a company now executing contracts with His Majesty's Government for the supply of petroleum products, 99 per cent. of the shares of this company being held by a German com- 1135W pany; and whether His Majesty's Government intends to continue to employ this company for the supply of His Majesty's forces by land and sea during the currency of the War?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe Board of Trade appointed an inspector under the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act in the case to which the hon. Member no doubt refers. The Board of Trade have no contracts with this company, and the question as to the source from which the supplies of His Majesty's forces by land and sea during the currency of the War is to be obtained is one which must be dealt with by the contracting department concerned. I may however add that the capital of the German holding company is itself to a large extent owned by non-German interests.