§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the President, of the Board of Trade whether at the commencement of the War some 10,000 persons, firms, or companies of enemy nationality were carrying on business in this country, and in how many of such cases orders to wind up or discontinue 2149W business have been made up to date; and how many Orders have been made vesting the property of enemy subjects residing in this country in the Custodian under the provisions of Section 4 of the Trading With the Enemy Act, 1916?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am unable to say how many persons, firms, or companies of enemy nationality were carrying on business in this country at the commencement of the War. I do not know how the figures mentioned by the hon. Member wore arrived at, but they would no doubt include persons whose businesses owing to internment, repatriation, and other causes have ceased to exist. The total number of cases in which Orders to wind up or discontinue businesses have up to the present date been made under Section 1 of the Trading With the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916, is 502. It is believed that most, if not all, businesses of any importance have been dealt with under the provisions of the Act of 1916, but if the hon. Member is aware of any case which he thinks has escaped the notice of the Board, my right hon. Friend will be glad to have it investigated upon being furnished with particulars. The total number of Orders made by the Board vesting property in the Custodian under Section 4 of the Act of 1916 is 943. Out of this number 132 were Orders relating only to the property of enemy subjects residing in this country; some. of the remaining Orders have dealt with the property of enemies as well as that of enemy subjects residing in this country.