§ Q3. Mr. Whitakerasked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the professions.
§ The Prime MinisterI am not aware of any widespread desire for such a Royal Commission.
§ Mr. WhitakerWould my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter in the light of Early Day Motion No. 144—" Royal Commission on the Professions "—which has been signed by the members of many professions? Is it not very hard to defend the fact that a House of Commons which is disproportionately full of professional people—elected mainly on the votes of trade unionists is concerned exclusively with restrictive practices in trade unions?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is certainly a fact that there are restrictive practices, not to say very intensive demarcation arrangements, within certain of the learned professions, and I have myself commented on the suggestion that some of the professional men who are actively concerned in promoting demarcation and restrictive practices should be asked to settle the restrictive practices in industry, but I am not sure that the appointment of a Royal Commission would be the way to deal with this question.