HC Deb 08 September 1942 vol 383 c15
24. Mr. Hannah

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a list is being kept of all businesses compulsorily closed or only of factories, in the narrow sense?

Mr. Dalton

Lists are kept in my Department of factories closed under concentration and also of all premises requisitioned by other Departments under the authority of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Hannah

Do the Government realise the terrible hardships to many individuals caused, by this policy?

Major Lyons

Has my right hon. Friend any knowledge of a large number of small shopkeepers being forced out of business as a result of economic causes and difficulties of trading?

Mr. Dalton

No small shops are compulsorily closed. That question does not strictly arise on my hon. Friend's Question, which I have answered as it appears on the Paper, and perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will await my answer to a later Question on retail trade.