§ 45. Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieuasked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the affairs of the football industry.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
§ No, Sir.
§ Mr. MallalieuIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is considerable evidence of corruption in this industry and that there is some evidence of tax evasion? Are these matters not proper subjects for investigation?
§ Mr. ButlerFrom my experience of the authorities, I am sure that they are quite capable of dealing with tax evasion. I should prefer to leave the affairs of the football industry to the industry itself. If there is some industrial conciliation procedure, as was the case in 1951, and some dispute on industrial conciliation, it would be a matter for the Minister of Labour, but beyond all that we had better leave the industry to work out its own affairs.