§ 2.37 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what are the trades or manufacturing activities still restricted by statutory provisions to those persons engaged in similar activities in 1939.]
THE MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION (LORD PAKENHAM)My Lords, I can only repeat the answer given by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in replying to a similar question in another place on July 30, 1948. I regret that, owing to the very great number of separate trades and industries concerned, this information is not readily available, and that to obtain it would require a large amount of work which would not be justified. I would add, for myself, that I am sorry not to be more helpful to the noble Lord.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his answer. Would he not agree that it is very regrettable that such a large sphere of trade and industry in this country is apparently closed to all persons who were not engaged in the industries nine years ago, and that His Majesty's Departments are apparently not aware of what those trades and industries are?
LORD PAKENHAMThe noble Lord is reading something into my reply which I should have thought was quite unjustified, and was seen to be so by the noble Lord. While I do not agree for a moment that there is necessarily any occasion here for regret, there may well be room for discussion; and if the noble Lord wishes to discuss it further with me in private I shall be glad to accommodate him.