§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Lord President of the Council why the machinery for the consideration of petitions for the grant of charters of incorporation has been in abeyance since September, 1939: when it is proposed to raise this ban; and 1029W whether petitions presented in the meantime but not considered will receive priority?
§ Sir J. AndersonConsideration of petitions for the grant of prerogative charters of incorporation was suspended in September, 1939, because it was neither desirable nor appropriate that the numerous Departments affected should be required in the present emergency to undertake the necessarily detailed examination of such applications. I am unable to indicate when this decision will be rescinded or to give an assurance that any particular applications will then receive preferential treatment. It is, however, undesirable that petitions should be submitted in the interim since the particulars contained in them may well be out of date before it is possible for the petitions to receive consideration.