HC Deb 14 December 1943 vol 395 cc1367-9
10. Mr. Doland

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to make a statement regarding the licensing of retail shops after the war?

Mr. Dalton

In agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food I am replying on his behalf as well as my own.

The present system of licensing retailers is an essential part of war-time control. It will not, however, be possible to bring it to an end with the cessation of hostilities in Europe, and the present arrangements for licensing shops, whether those selling food or those covered by the Location of Retail Businesses Order, will have to continue for some time during the transition period. But it is not the intention of His Majesty's Government that these arrangements should be permanent. So long as licensing continues during the transition period, it will be operated so as to facilitate the return to their former businesses of persons on the Board of Trade Register of Withdrawing Retail Traders. A comparable arrangement will apply as regards food retailers. In suitable cases, disabled persons selected in co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour will also be granted licences to enable them to enter non-food retail trade. The same principle will be followed in the food trades, but the number of openings will be few so long as the present system of consumer rationing has to be maintained.

The existing arrangements for the granting of retail licences will be continued during this transitional period, but will be expanded in the directions I have indicated.

Mr. Doland

Will these arrangements be carried out by legislation or by Order in Council? What will be the position of those who are not on the register?

Mr. Dalton

As to the exact legal authority for these arrangements in the transitional period, I cannot give an answer, but the Government will ask the House at an appropriate moment to make suitable provisions to enable these arrangements to have the force of law during the period I have indicated. With regard to the register, I would once more like to ask all hon. Members to give the utmost publicity to it, particularly in view of the statement I have made, which adds to its importance. Every trader who gets on to the register will be entitled to return to his business after the cessation of hostilities in Europe. On the other hand, those who do not get on to the register will have to be looked at a second time, but I hope that as many as possible will get on to the register.

Mr. Hutchinson

Is it intended to give any priority to ex-Service men under this scheme?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir. I have already tried to make it clear that, first, ex-Service men who are on the register will have priority, and, second, disabled persons, including but not wholly including ex-Service men, who were not in retail trade before the war will have an opportunity of entering. That will be worked out in consultation with the Minister of Labour. It would not be desirable for too many disabled ex-Service men with no previous experience of retail trade to push in, as they did after the last war, with very unfortunate results. On the other hand, it is our duty to see that these men are fairly treated.

Mr. Rhys Davies

In dealing with the problem of issuing licences to enter retail trade after the war, is it intended that the determination will rest exclusively with the Food Ministry, or will local authorities be asked to advise Government Departments?

Mr. Dalton

I am speaking here for the Board of Trade and not for the Ministry of Food. So far as the Board of Trade is concerned, we shall keep in being the existing machinery, whereby we have local committees with a wide representation who advise us on these licensing questions.

Sir Herbert Williams

What about a person who has not been registered who wants to trade where there is a need to satisfy the public? Will such a person be able to be registered if no one else in that area is desiring registration?

Mr. Dalton

I am not sure that my hon. Friend has quite appreciated what the register does. The register records the names of persons who were in non-food retail trade before the war. What I have said is that every person who is on the register will be entitled to return to the same place and the same kind of business. Persons not on the register who desire to open a shop will be able to apply for a licence through the existing machinery, and these licences will, I anticipate, be given in larger numbers as the shortage of goods, which is the fundamental reason for the whole of this arrangement, abates.

Sir Irving Albery

May I ask whether facilities exist for including Service men overseas on the register?

Mr. Dalton

We are continually publicising the register. It is no good the hon. Member shaking his head. There have been frequent references to it in the Press, and there have been references on the radio, and I invite my hon. Friend and all other hon. Members to do their bit in publicising it in their own constituencies.

Mr. Turton rose

—

Mr. Speaker

We cannot spend all the time on this Question.