§ Major HILLSasked the President of the Board of Trade what inquiries the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies makes before the registration of a new name, in order to see that it does not 905W conflict with a previous registration or with an existing trade mark; and whether he is aware that registrations are being permitted which are to some extent imitations of previous registrations or existing trade marks or products?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIt is provided by Section 17 of the Companies Act, 1929, that no company shall be registered by a name which is identical with that by which a company in existence is already registered or so nearly resembles that name as to be calculated to deceive, and a careful search of the Register is made to ensure that this provision is duly observed. The Registrar also inquires, if necessary, Whether any part of the name includes a trade mark. If so, the attention of the applicants is drawn thereto to endeavour to secure that the name of the company does not include a trade mark, unless the company is the registered proprietor or assignee of the trade mark. As regards the last part of the question, perhaps my right hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases that he has in mind.