§ Q3. Sir F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister how many Ministers resigned trade union appointments on becoming Ministers last October; and how many still hold such appointments.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 13th April to a Question by the right hon. Member for Guildford (Sir R Nugent).
§ Sir F. BennettI cannot recall that. I do not think it gave the numbers I have asked for. But will the Prime Minister realise that there is a genuine wish for him to show a new concern about the situation? Will he also realise that this is not just a Conservative vendetta, as was exemplified by 27 out of 28 resolutions at the Transport and General Workers Union conference recently; and they are not all members of the Tory Party, all taking the same view as we do on these benches?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sorry if the answer to which I referred, on 13th April, did not give the figures the hon. Member asked for. The figures given were the truth, whether they were the ones he asked for or not, and I hope he has studied them. As far as the resolutions of the Transport and General Workers Union conference are concerned, I think they showed the great desire of others who have worked with my right hon. Friend that his services should be available to them. So far as the Government are concerned, I am sure that after the last 48 hours pantomime, started by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten), the whole House will agree that there is a paramount need for my right hon. Friend to stay in the Government and in the House.