28. Sir A. POWNAILasked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis licences to import will be distributed between the various meat shippers in cases of regulated imports such as that contained in the Argentine Agreement?
§ Dr. BURGINI am not quite sure what my hon. Friend has in mind, but, speaking generally, licences to import meat under the Ottawa Agreements Act have been issued to existing firms, which, it is understood, retain their previous shares in the trade. As a rule it has not been found necessary to issue licences in respect of specified quantities.
Sir A. POWNAILCan the Parliamentary Secretary Bay what will happen in regard to new firms in the case of business increasing? Will the list be stereotyped as for the last few years, or will there be scope for expansion?
§ Dr. BURGINAs long as a firm holds a licence, that is the only requirement it has to comply with, as far as the Government are concerned. The share in the trade is a matter of negotiation between the parties concerned in the trade itself.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSCan the Parlia-mentary Secretary say under what authority licences are to be granted?
§ Dr. BURGINUnder the authority of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Member say when the Board of Trade obtained authority to grant licences to import into this country?
§ Dr. BURGINBy the Act itself.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask which Act?