§ 42. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of licences issued for dealing in gold for the first six months of 1932 and the number for the same period for 1931; and can he state the approximate increase in yield to the Treasury owing to the demand for licences of those who now buy and sell sovereigns?
§ Major ELLIOTIf the licences to which my hon. Friend refers are licences to deal in articles of gold or silver plate, the numbers taken out during the first six months of 1932 and the first six months of 1931 were 1,093 and 329 respectively. As 623 regards the last part of the question, I am advised that licences are not required for the so-called buying or selling of sovereigns.