§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the so-called Irish Provident Assurance Company, the London and Provincial Company, and the Central Motor Car Company, of Fleet Street, Dublin, have been worked by the same persons; how much money each of the second and third of those companies owes to the first; for what purpose, and by what authority, the sum of £2,000 was paid out of the funds of the Irish Provident to Mr. F. C. Norman; what salaries have been paid to the managing director, the secretary, and the inspectors, respectively, of the Irish Provident; and what percentage of the money entrusted to that company has been spent in salaries and expenses?
Mr. BUXTONAccording to the last returns filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies by the three companies 1313W mentioned by the hon. Member in his question, the Irish Provident Assurance Company had before it went into liquidation five directors, and the London and Provincial Assurance Company has eight directors; four out of the five directors of the Irish Provident Assurance Company were also directors of the London and Provincial Assurance Company. With regard to the last of the three companies, namely, the Central Motor Car Company, the only company registered of that name was dissolved in January, 1908, and so far as can be gathered from the last list of directors filed, had no connection whatever with the first two companies. The latter part of the hon. Member's question deals with matters which are not required to be disclosed in the filed records of the company, and as to which I have no information.