§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that the Report of the Monopolies Commission on the Professional Services published last October recommended, inter alia, that the sex of an applicant should not be a condition of entry unless there were particular circumstances affording grounds for confining it to one sex, and that the professions should examine their restrictive practices with a view to abolishing them or amending them; and if he will inform the profession of stock brokerage that unless it amends its rules in the light of the Monopolies Commission's Report he will refer the matter to the Commission.
§ Mr. RidleyI sympathise with the view expressed by the Monopolies Commission on the subject of sex discrimination in the professions. In the light of this, I shall be considering carefully the implications of the recent vote by members of the London Stock Exchange against the admission of women.
§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he carried out his declared intention of 28th October last to write to the professional organisations inviting them to examine their restrictive practices, which included sexual discrimination; what replies he has received; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyLetters were sent to the professional organisations on 16th November, 1970. Most have now replied, including those representing the London Stock Exchange and midwifery—the only professions in which the Monopolies Commission found that restrictions existed as to the sex of the practitioner. It is likely to be some time before I reach a conclusion on any further action that may be needed.