§ 108. Mr. TOOTILLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the delay that is now taking place in the issue of licensees for the clearance of fruit and vegetable baskets lying on the quays at Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, and other ports; is he aware that annoyance and irritation is caused by the failure to answer urgent letters concerning the issue of licensees; and will he therefore, in view of the near approach of the soft-fruit season, give the necessary instructions to the Department of Import Restrictions for a more expeditious issue of licensees for dealing with this class of perishable goods?
§ Mr. PRETYMANA number of licensees have been given, and will continue to be given, for such baskets as are urgently necessary for the handling of raw fruit. A certain amount of delay is at present inevitable in view of the pressure under which the Department of Import Restrictions is now working, but I am confident that it will soon be possible to deal more expeditiously with all inquiries. It must not, however, be assumed that persons who have imported prohibited goods without a licensee are entitled to have them released by the Customs on arrival in this country.