Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the President of the Board of Trade who is responsible for securing compliance with the law in respect of limited liability companies as regards the presentation of balance sheets and the making of other prescribed Returns; and if he will submit a statement giving particulars of defaulting companies in this respect during the last five years and the action taken by or on behalf of the Government thereon?
Mr. BUXTONsupplied the following particulars as to defaults by companies in filing Returns during the past five years:—
Year. Number of defaults in respect of Returns with regard to which the companies concerned were circularised by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. Number of companies struck off the Register on the ground that they were not carrying on business or in operation. Number of summonses issued by the Board of Trade in respect of defaults in filing Returns. 1908 … 5,800 662 34 1909 … 5,188 892 23 1910 … 8,204 905 61 1911 … 6,990 1,777 68 1912 … 8,485 1,549 22