§ 26. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet heard from the King's Roll National Council with regard to the suggestion made by the hon. and gallant Member for East Lewisham that a list should be published of all those local authorities employing a staff of more than 20 persons who are not on the King's Roll?
§ 32. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Labour whether he can now inform the House as to the names of the local authorities in Great Britain who are not on the King's Roll; and whether he will explain the reasons why the Ministry of Labour have for so many months refused to disclose their names?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)As was stated, in reply to the 481 hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 21st March, the King's Roll National Council, to whom my right hon. Friend referred this matter, are making special efforts with the object of bringing a larger number of local authorities on the Roll, and do not for the present advise any action with regard to the publication of the names of authorities not on the Roll. Clearly the efforts of the National Council would not be. assisted by the publication of the suggested list at the present time.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question, as to what is the reason that, for nearly a year now, his Department. have shown such tenderness to these unpatriotic local authorities?
§ Mr. BETTERTONYou cannot blacklist at the same time as you are preserving a policy of peaceful persuasion. It is premature to try the former method until the latter has definitely failed.