§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has at any time since 1 January 1980 had discussions with or corresponded with James D. Krekis, Gordon M. Davies, C. Diccon Wright or Andrew S. Woodhouse with a view to any of them becoming licensed dealers in securities or registered representatives of a licensed dealer in securities, or any company of which any of them are or were directors becoming a licensed dealer in securities.
§ Mr. RedwoodNone of the four people mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's question ever applied for a licence to392W deal in securities under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 either in their own name or through the companies in the Garston Amhurst Group. In late 1983 an official in my Department obtained documents suggesting that Garston Amhurst Associates might have been carrying on the business of dealing in securities without authorisation. My Department wrote to the company on 22 May 1984 advising that such activities might constitute an offence under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958. Following telephone calls from Mr. Wright and from his solicitors which attempted to clarify the scope of the Act, written assurances were received from the company's legal advisers that all such activities had ceased, and would not be resumed without the necessary authorisation being first obtained.
§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what authorisations exist at the present time for the purposes of dealing in securities or the giving of financial advice to the public in the names of James D. Krekis, Gordon M. Davies, C. Diccon Wright and Andrew S. Woodhouse.
§ Mr. RedwoodNone.