§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he received a communication from Mr. A. G. Hughes sent on 14th January, 1971, regarding the John Bloom affair and the operation of the Companies Act; what was the nature of this communication; what were the terms of his reply; and what was the date of his receipt of the earlier letter from Mr. Hughes sent on 15th October, 1970, the nature of this communication and the date and gist of his reply.
§ Mr. RidleyIn his letter of 14th January, received on 19th January, Mr. Hughes requested a reply to his letter of 15th October. In this letter, received on 16th or 19th October, he expressed the hope that the report of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Rolls Razor Ltd. would be published. I regret that no reply was sent direct to Mr. Hughes. The late hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham forwarded, and requested comments on, a copy of the letter of 15th October. In a letter of 9th November I informed him why we had decided not to publish the report.
In reply to Mr. Hughes' letter of 14th January I am sending him a copy of the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave the hon. Member on 5th November regarding the report.