§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the circumstances leading to Homepower Retail Ltd. and Power Store Trading Ltd. reducing a £7 million trade surplus and going into administration. [29260]
§ Mr. OppenheimIf the hon. Member or any other person has any information which suggests that there has been any fraud or misconduct in connection with the affairs of the companies, he should send it to my investigations and enforcement directorate at room 707, 10 Victoria street, London SW1H ONN.
The Secretary of State will await the report on the conduct of the directors which is due to be made under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 within six months of the appointment of the administrators.
§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take to assist Homepower retail customers who have paid for goods which they have not received. [29259]
§ Mr. OppenheimThe administrators have identified a number of customers who have paid all or part of the cost of goods which have yet to be supplied. I am advised that on 1 May 1996 Mr. Duggins, one of the joint administrators, wrote to each of these customers advising them of the various actions they could take and asking them to complete a claim form. Prior to the appointment of administrators, the directors set up trust accounts with a view to protecting customers against loss of payments made for undelivered goods. The administrators are investigating the position and there is a possibility that customers may eventually recover some or all of their money from this source.
If any such customers have not yet heard from the administrators it is suggested that they contact Mr. Duggins at Arthur Andersen, 1 Victoria square, Birmingham B1 1BD, telephone 0121 233 2101.