§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date he received a letter from the General Secretary of the Registered Plumbers Association concerning the compulsory registration of plumbers on 24th July, 1967; and if he will give details of the content of the letter and of his reply, including the date of the reply.
§ Mr. MacCollThe letter, which was received on 25th July, broadly asked my right hon. Friend's support for the compulsory registration of plumbers. In his reply of 25th August the Joint Parliamentary Secretary said that the Ministry thought that voluntary arrangements based on goodwill and the raising of standards were more likely to benefit the public than compulsory arrangements based on minimum standards. I am sending copies of the correspondence to my hon. Friend.