UK's business committee to investigate Thomas Cook collapse

LONDON (Reuters) - The British parliament's business committee has launched an inquiry into the collapse of travel group Thomas Cook <TCG.L> and will seek to question the management over issues such as executive pay and accounting practices.

Thomas Cook, the world's oldest tour operator, collapsed in the early hours of Monday, hitting hotel owners, tourist sites and resorts around the world. It also prompted the British government to launch the largest peacetime repatriation in history.

"The main players in the sad demise of Britain's oldest travel firm should face public scrutiny and be held to account for their actions before the company collapsed," said Rachel Reeves, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee.

Evidence hearings will begin in mid-to-late October.

"Directors will welcome the opportunity to set the record straight and demonstrate that their conduct was always in the best interests of Thomas Cook’s customers, employees and stakeholders," a person familiar with the company told Reuters.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Stephen Addison)