HC Deb 27 April 1978 vol 948 c1633
14. Mr. Michael Latham

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current number of firms on the blacklist and subject to discretionary sanctions for having made payments to their employees in excess of the voluntary pay guidelines.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Thirty-one.

Mr. Latham

Having now stuffed their objectionable contract conditions down the throats of British industry, why do the Government still need to keep the secret black list as well?

Mr. Barnett

It is actually rather interesting. When we debated this matter we were told that we should publish the names of the people on this black list. We said that we would write to the firms concerned stating that if they were agreeable we would publish the names. Out of the numbers to whom we wrote, 16 replied and only one agreed.

Mr. Cope

Are there any large firms on this black list, or are they all small firms, which are easy to bully?

Mr. Barnett

No, there are both.