§ Mr. GINNELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the losses sustained by many poor people through one-man moneyless institutions called banks, the Board will, in the public 584W interest, ascertain the available assets and liabilities of all institutions assuming that name; and whether he will now give this information regarding such an institution called the John Bull Bank?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board of Trade have no jurisdiction to require the disclosure of the assets and liabilities of businesses carried on by individuals as in the case of the John Bull Bank. As I informed the hon. Member for North Islington on the 11th February, the question of whether some legislation is desirable with regard to the use of the word "bank" shall be carefully considered when a suitable opportunity arises.