§ Mr. ELLIS DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of public companies, particularly those where the directors are also managers of the company, include in their articles an absolute power for the directors to refuse to register a transfer, with the result that the shareholder who wishes to dispose of his share is compelled to do so to a person who is acceptable to the board and sometimes to their nominee at a price which has no relation to the real value of the shares; and whether he will instruct the Committee which is considering the question of Company Law to give this matter their consideration?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed that the matter referred to in this question has already been brought to the attention of the Committee.
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§ Mr. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that public limited companies are at present in a position to issue balance-sheets containing very little information which is of value to their shareholders in ascertaining the real position of the company and the consequent value of the shares held by them; and whether he will submit to the Committee now sitting on Company Law the desirability of compelling public companies to give further information in their balance-sheet?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed that the matters referred to in this question have already been brought to the attention of the. Committee.