HC Deb 06 November 1972 vol 845 cc49-51W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions and the dates when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Pinnock Finance Group (Great Britain) Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(2) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions and the dates when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Sempah Holdings Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(3) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Hartley Baird Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(4) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Associated Leisure Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(5) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Camp Bird Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(6) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Three Way Nurseries Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(7) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that H. J. Baldwin & Co. Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period, and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time;

(8) whether he will give whatever information may be readily available and can be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort of the number of occasions, and the dates, when his Department was requested to take action to ensure that Dollar Land Holdings Limited filed its company returns and accounts within the statutory period and the periods of time that the company was in arrears with its filing of such accounts, for the longest stated periods of time.

Sir G. Howe

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade on 24th October.—[Vol. 843, c.249–50.]

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on what date he was first approached by Mr. E. M. Hunt asking for action under the Companies Act regarding Berkeley (Overseas) Limited; what action he took; and whether he answered all of the correspondence sent to him by Mr. Hunt;

(2) on how many occasions, and for what periods of time, Berkeley (Overseas) Limited failed in accordance with the Companies Act to submit its returns and accounts within the statutory period; when this became known to his Department; what action he took; and with what results.

Sir G. Howe

My right hon. Friend, the then Minister for Trade, wrote to the hon. Member about this on 6th September and again on 25th October. I have nothing further to add.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on how many occasions, and for what periods of time, Ropergate Services Limited failed in accordance with the Companies Act to submit its returns and accounts within the statutory period; when this became known of his Department; what action he took; and with what results;

(2) on how many occasions, and for what periods of time, the Third Mile Investment Company Limited failed, in accordance with the Companies Act, to submit its returns and accounts within the statutory period; when this became known to his Department; what action he took; and with what results.

Sir G. Howe

This information could not be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will detail the appropriate action that has been taken or is being taken regarding the 600 letters which he has received since 3rd August asking for action to enforce the Companies Act against named Companies and their directors.

Sir G. Howe

This information could not be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort.