§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Holzapfel concern at Bergen, in which Holzapfels, Limited, of Newcastle-on-Tyne are interested, is largely under the influence of Mr. Max Holzapfel, a naturalised German who left this country at the outbreak of war, and whose connection with Holzapfel's firm in this country has been considered so objectionable that his interest therein has been eliminated; and, if so, will he state what steps the Government have taken, and will in future take, to prevent any supplies sent from this country to the Holzapfel firm in Bergen being directly or indirectly used for the benefit of the enemy?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am informed that the Holzapfel concern at Bergen is not largely under the influence of Mr. Max Holzapfel; that he is not a director of1576W that concern, but acts as technical adviser only in manufacturing matters if appealed to.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what steps the Government have taken, or are taking, in order to make sure that the undertaking given by the Holzapfel concern at Bergen to Holzapfels, Limited, Newcastle-on-Tyne, is really effective in preventing any goods shipped by the English firm to the Bergen concern in which they are interested from being used, either directly or indirectly, to the advantage of the enemy?
§ Mr. WARDLEAs stated in answer to a question of the hon. Member on the 1st August, the undertaking referred to was not given to the Government, but to Holzapfels, Limited. Any question with regard to the steps taken by the Government to prevent goods shipped to Norway from reaching the enemy should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Blockade.