§ 17. Mr. KINGSLEY GRIFFITHasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the cross-word competition recently conducted on behalf of the Barclay Workshops for the 2047 Blind, in which the receipts were announced as;£146,731 and the expenses as £136,178, including£71,000 for advertising; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to taking action if necessary?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have seen Press reports relating to this case. Charities for the blind are governed by the Blind Persons Act, 1920, which requires them to be registered with the county council, and I gather from the Press reports that the case has been fully before the London County Council, which is the local authority under the Act in this instance. I have no jurisdiction under the Blind Persons Act, and there is no action that I can take in the matter.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes not the Home Secretary think that he ought to take power to deal with such flagrant robberies?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-H1CKSThe hon. Member again is trying to put more power into the hands of the Home Secretary. I appreciate his compliment. The Act gives authority to the London County Council, and the London County Council have already dealt with this case, and if the hon. Member has read the report he will see that they have made representations to the charity in question.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWith great respect to the Home Secretary, is it not the fact that while carrying out his duties as Home Secretary he engages in all sorts of outside activities, such as raiding Arcos?