§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that British banks are at present granting advances to companies who, although registered in this country, are really Germans; and, if so, whether he will at once take steps to put a stop to such practices?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs the Noble Lord is no doubt aware, such companies are precluded from making payments of any kind to enemy shareholders during the War. While it is very desirable that bankers should exercise special vigilance in granting loans to companies, the capital of which is known to be mainly or even largely held in enemy countries, I do not think that a general power to prohibit such loans, even if it were taken by the Government, could usefully be exercised.