§ 39. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since the Government's declaration of a dividend standstill a number of companies have announced dividend increases; what action he has taken to collate information as to the number of such firms; whether he will publish the details in HANSARD; and what action he has taken or intends to take to enforce this dividend standstill so far as these companies are concerned.
§ Mr. DiamondSince the announcement of the Prices and Incomes Standstill 628 public companies have declared dividends. 616 of these call for no comment, being within the standstill policy; the remaining 12 show an increase. As investigation has established that the increased dividends were paid under a misunderstanding of the precise effect of the standstill policy in their individual cases, no further action is proposed.