Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948, the activities of a company, particulars of which have been sent to him, which undertakes house-to-house collections in the North-East of discarded clothing in plastic bags in exchange for combs, and whose business is being conducted for a fraudulent and unlawful purpose.
§ Mr. DarlingThe concern in question is not a company and is outside the scope of the Companies Act, 1948: Section 165 is therefore inapplicable. If my hon. Friend has any evidence that a criminal offence has been committed by the firm the right course is to inform the police.