HC Deb 12 March 1996 vol 273 c520W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, columns 135–36, if he will give powers to shareholders of public companies to enable them to receive a detailed explanation of the reasons for a creditor company's refusal to initiate an action for bankruptcy in instances where the debt is in excess of £50,000 and where the debtor is an hon. Member. [19936]

Mr. Oppenheim

In general, shareholders of companies delegate to their board to management decisions such as the enforcement of debts owed to the company. A power for shareholders to intervene in these specific circumstances would not be appropriate.