asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet decided to appoint an inspector under Section 165 (b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the transaction of the transfer last December of the freehold of the Berkeley Hotel to a new company, the Worcester Buildings Co. (London), Ltd.; whether he has now considered and will publish the observations from the Savoy Hotel directors on this transaction; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received the observations of the Savoy directors with regard to the transfer last December of the Berkeley Hotel to the Worcester Buildings Company (London) Limited.

The Secretary of the Savoy Hotel Limited has informed my right hon. Friend that the observations of the directors are being prepared and that he may expect to receive them in the course of a week or so.

Can the Minister say why it has taken him so long to reach a decision on this matter whereas he quite rightly acquiesced speedily in the request of the Savoy directors for an inquiry into the manipulations of Samuels and company? Will he give a guarantee that when this report, or letter or document is received from the Savoy directors, he will make a statement on the matter?

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The other inquiry was under a totally different section of the Act and quite different considerations apply. There has been no undue delay on the part of the directors in answering the request for observations which my right hon. Friend made.