§ Mr. LEONARD LYLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether in 1916 the Ministry appointed the firm of Messrs. Aston and Mander, Limited, Willesden, a controlled establishment; whether in February, 1917, the Ministry, without warning, appointed a Ministry official, Mr. Conolly, as receiver; whether, after the Armistice. the business was handed back to Messrs. 2772W Aston and Mander heavily in debt as a result of Government control; whether Messrs. Aston and Mander are claiming compensation from the Ministry and the case has been lodged for trial; and whether he will endeavour to have this case expedited in view of the fact that Messrs. Aston and Mander are suffering very seriously financially?
Mr. HOPEAston and Mander, Limited (now in liquidation), was made a controlled establishment on the 22nd of May, 1916. The Minister made certain advances to that company on the security of debentures charged on the undertaking and assets of the company. In February, 1317, Mr. Connolly was appointed Receiver on behalf of the Minister under the powers of the debentures. In June, 1917, a new company was formed, called Aston and Mander (1917), Limited, of which Mr. Connolly was a Director. The Minister also made advances to the new company and a considerable sum is claimed by the Minister to be owing in respect of the whole of the before-mentioned advances. Mr. Connolly resigned his position as Director on March, 1919, and at this date there were existing certain current liabilities of the company. Disputes have arisen between the company and the Minister which are the subject matter of legal proceedings now pending. The case is a somewhat complicated one and has not yet been set down for trial, but so far as the Minister is concerned, no unnecessary delay has arisen or will arise in bringing the case to trial.