asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will carry out an investigation under the Companies Acts into recent purchases of Consolidated Gold Fields shares;(2) whether he intends to appoint inspectors under the Companies Acts to discover the identity and consider the desirability of the substantial foreign interest recently acquired in Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd.; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend yesterday appointed inspectors pursuant to section 172 of the Companies Act 1948 to investigate and report on the membership of Consolidated Gold Fields Limited.