§ 17. Captain Stricklandasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he 334 will take any necessary steps to secure that no new shops shall be allowed to be opened within a reasonable radius of a similar shop occupied at the time of his or her call-up for military service by a unit of His Majesty's Forces until due notice has been served on that person if still living, so as to ascertain whether it is the intention of that unit to return to or reopen that shop, in which case no such newcomer shall be permitted to open within a specified time.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)The procedure suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would, I fear, lead to great delay. But every ex-trader on the Board of Trade Register will be entitled to reopen his shop after the war, and, meanwhile, licences to open new shops are only granted where these are required to meet the public need or to enable men disabled in the war to establish themselves in business.
§ Sir Joseph LambIn that case, would it not be possible for the man who has received a licence to obtain the whole of the goodwill?
§ Mr. DaltonI have given special instructions to our local committees who advise me on these matters that they are to take account of the interests of any traders who are on the Board of Trade Register; but my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion would involve great delay, because it would mean in some cases communicating with men in Burma before we could do anything.
§ Mr. BowlesIs there a similar committee to advise my right hon. Friend so far as the London area is concerned?
§ Mr. DaltonYes, we have a committee for London.
§ Captain StricklandWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these men stationed overseas will have less chance of coming back and opening their shops unless some protection is given?
§ Mr. DaltonWe shall not allow any competition with those men unless the committee holds that there is an urgent need among the local population.
§ Mr. DaltonPerhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.