HL Deb 14 June 1945 vol 136 cc641-6WA
LORD PERRY

asked His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the fact that the necessity for keeping such matters from the European enemy no longer exists, they will issue a statement giving the following information:

  1. (a) The names of all trading companies registered under the Companies Act or other Acts (i) which are controlled either wholly or in part by His Majesty's Government, (iii) in which His Majesty's Government or its nominees hold investments, or (iii) in respect of which His Majesty's Government possess the right to nominate directors;
  2. (b) The names of all persons nominated by His Majesty's Government to serve as directors or officials of these

Company. Nature of Business. Directors appointed by His Majesty's Government.
Oceanic Steam Navigation Realisation Co. Ltd. Shipping S. Malcolm Baird, Esq.
Royal Mail Lines, Ltd.
David Mae Brayne, Ltd. Coastal Shipping Lt.-Col. N. Macleod, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Irrawaddy Flotilla Co., Ltd. Irrawaddy Transport R. H. Wilson, Esq.

companies, their qualificaitons for such employment and the remuneration paid to each;

  1. (c) The nature of the business carried on by each of the companies in question;
  2. (d) Which of the companies concerned is registered as a profit-making enterprise and whether their trading activities have resulted in profits or losses

THE, LORD CHANCELLOR

I assume that this question relates to companies which are trading for profit as distinct from those which are operated for public purposes under the ægis of Government Departments as part of the administrative machinery of Government. I assume also that the noble Lord is not concerned with companies which were acquired by the Government in order to ensure war production and which have since been advertised for sale. On this basis the names of the directors appointed by His Majesty's Government and the nature of the business carried on by the several companies are as shown below. The officials of the companies other than directors are appointed in all cases by the companies themselves. I regret that it is not practicable to give a compendious statement of the other particulars asked for in the question. The qualifications of the directors are in all cases those which were regarded as most, appropriate for the particular appointments in question, and their remuneration is determined from time to time in accordance with the constitution of the different companies. None of the companies included in the list is debarred by its constitution from trading for profit, but I regret that it is not feasible to give a statement of the profit and loss position of the separate concerns other than as may be shown in published accounts.

The following is the list of companies:

Company. Nature of Business. Directors appointed by His Majesty's Government.
Suez Canal Co. Rt. Hon. the Earl of Cromer, G.C.B., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O.
— Rt. Hon. Lord Hankey, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.
N. E. Young, Esq., M.C.
Port of Loudon Authority J. P. Blake, Esq., D.L., J P.
— Vice-Adml. S John T. Edgell, KBE., C.B.
J. T. Scoulding, Esq., J.P.
Central Electricity Board Electricity Rt. Hon. Lord Barnby, C.M.G., C.B.E., M.V.O.
F. Hodges, Esq., J.P.
H. Hobson, Esq.
R. P. Sloan, Esq., C.B.E., M.I.E.E.
Sir Duncan Watson, J.P., M.I.E.E.
Sir Ralph L. Wedgwood, Bt., C.B., C.M.G.
W. K. Whigham, Esq.
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric, Board Rt. Hon. the Earl of Airlie, K.T., G.C.V.O., M.C.
do. A. E. MacColl, Esq.
N. S. Beaton, Esq.
Provost H. MacKenzie, C.B.E.
North Wales Power Co., Ltd. do.
Electricity Distribution of North Wales and District, Ltd. Brig.-Gen. R.F. Legge, C.B.E:; D.S.O.
Tata Power Co., Ltd. do. L. A. Halsall, Esq.
Athens Piraeus Electricity Co. do.
Electric Transport Co. (of Athens) R.M. Meilkle, Esq.
Bowater's Newfoundland Pulp & Paper Mills, Ltd. — A. Ritchie, Esq.
Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Ltd. Sir George L. Barstow, K.C.B.
— Sir Edwlrd H., Packe, K.B.E.
United Kingdom Commercial Corporation Ltd. Sir Francis Joseph, Bt., K.B.E., D.L., M. I. Min. E.
Sir Frank H, Nixon, K.C.M.G., C.B.
A. C, Beatty, Esq.
General Overseas Trading J H. Hambro, Esq.
C. P. Lister, Esq.
L.C. Paton, Esq.
Capt. J. A. Leighton, C.B.E., D.S.O.
E. J. Shearer, Esq., C.B., C.B.E., M.C.
A. D. Campbell, Esq., C.B.E.
E. H. Lever, Esq., F.I.A.
Aircraft Precision, Ltd. Light Engineering A. Hacking, Esq., O.B.E.
E. R. Armelin, Esq.
G. A. Todd, Esq., C.A.
Broad way Engineering, Co do Col E.D. Basden, M.C.
F.W. Halliwell, Esq.
Erskine Tool Co., Ltd. do. N. S. Murray, Esq.
N. Campbell, Esq.
S. F. Shuttleworth, Esq.
John McClure, Ltd. N. S. Murray, Esq.
do N. Campbell, Esq.
S. F. Shuttleworth, Esq.
S. G. Brown, Ltd. A. A. Rowse, Esq., M.I.M.E., M. Inst. C.E., M.I.A.E., M.I.E.E.
do. F. W. Gale, Esq.
Fairmile Marine Co., Ltd. Sir A. Noel C. Macklin.
Small-craft Construction Vice-Adml. C. V. Usborne, C.B., C.M.G.
W. Medd, Esq., C.B., O.B.E.
Frank Curtis, Ltd. D. McKellar, Esq., F.C.A.
do. A.J. Stubbings, Esq.
F. Curtis, Esq.
South Wales Forgemasters, Ltd. P. E. Thomas, Esq., O.B.E., LL.D.
E. T. Granger, Esq., F.C.A.
Drop Forging J.D. Julien, Esq.
T. Stuart O very, Esq.
Charles E. Jones, Ltd F. Sanders, Esq.
Lime Quarries H.D. Bell, Esq., F.C.A.
E.T. Granger, Esq., F.C.A.

Company. Nature of Business. Directors appointed by His Majesty's Government.
Short Bros. (Rochester & Bedford), Ltd. E. D. A Herbert, Esq., O.B.E.
S. H. Brown, Esq.
Aircraft Construction Sir John S. Buchanan, C.B.E.
C. P. T. Lipscomb, Esq.
J. L. Parker, Esq., O.B.E.
D. W. Wiseman, Esq.
British Overseas Airways Corporation — Viscount Knollys, K.C.M.G., M.B.E., D.F.C.
Sir Harold G. Howitt, D.S.O., M.C., F.C.A
Brig.-Gen. A.C. Critchley, C.M.G., D.S.O. C.B.E.
G. d'Erlanger, Esq., C.B.E., A.C.A.
J. Marchbank, Esq.
S. Marks, Esq., D.Sc.
Miss P. Gower, M.B.E.
Nottingham & Clifton Collieries, Ltd. Collieries E. D. A. Herbert, Esq., O.B.E.
T. F. Turner, Esq. K.C.
F. Skevington, Esq., M.B.E.
J.& J. Charlesworth, Ltd. do. H. Danby, Esq.
Crawshaw & Warburton, Ltd. do. Maj. J. G. Scowlar.
Glass Houghton & Castleford Collierles, Ltd. do.
Pontelract Collieries, Ltd. Maj. H. M. Hudspeth, D.S.O., M.C.
Yorkshire Cokin ǵ & Chemical Co., Ltd.
James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars), Ltd. Glass Manufacturers S. Malcolm Baird, Esq.
British Sugar Corporation, Ltd. Lt.-Col. Sir Francis H. Humphrys, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.B.E. C.I.E.
— Sir Louis J. Kershaw, K.C.S.I., C.I.E.
Maj. J. Leslie, D.S.O., M.C.
Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, Ltd. Sir George L. Barstow, K.C.B.
— Sir William Gavin, C.B.E.
E. L. Mitchell, Esq., C.B, C.B.E.
Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation, Ltd. — Sir Joshua Ross-Taylor.
House adjourned at four minutes before five o'clock.