asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies incorporated in Dublin and transacting business in Great Britain as property owners are registered with the Registrar of Companies.

Six companies incorporated in Dublin, which have property-owning as their main object, are registered with the Registrar of Companies under Part X of the Companies Act, 1948. I would point out that an oversea company is obliged to register under Part X only if it has established a place of business in this country.

If I send the Minister details of certain Irish companies now being used by a bunch of crooks at 77, Gloucester Place, W.1, to continue the Brady slum racket, will he prosecute the wrongdoers concerned for illegal breaches of the Companies Act that may be brought to his notice?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any evidence of apparent breaches of the Companies Act, my right hon. Friend would be grateful if he would bring them to his notice.

Mr. I. O. Thomas:

Would the Minister define the term "place of business" in connection with the registration of foreign companies in this country? Does it mean the actual place of manufacture, of distribution or what?

The hon. Gentleman's question involves questions both of fact and of law which would have to be considered in each individual case.