HC Deb 03 May 1971 vol 816 cc262-3W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list showing the number of occasions and on what dates he has received requests for an investigation into matters connected with the Dollar Land Holdings Limited, who made the requests, and what action he took in each instance.

Mr. John Davies

It is not the Department's practice to disclose the identity of a person who communicates with them about the affairs of a particular company without his consent.

A formal application for the appointment of inspectors under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of Dollar Land Holdings Limited was received on 10th February, 1970 from solicitors acting for shareholders. The application was rejected on the ground that the conditions in Section 165(b) were not satisfied.

A request from the hon. Member on 19th March, 1970, for the appointment of inspectors was rejected on 6th April.

The hon. Member has also asked in this House on a number of occasions for the appointment of inspectors under Section 165 to investigate the affairs of the company. A formal application, supported by over 200 shareholders, for the appointment of an inspector under Section 172(3) of the Companies Act, 1948, to determine the true ownership of the company was made on 3rd June, 1970. The application was rejected on the ground that it was vexatious.