HC Deb 21 March 1944 vol 398 cc661-2
39. Mr. Mander

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure that those independent traders who are now in the Forces shall be given a fair chance of re-entry into the retail trade on demobilisation.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)

As I have previously stated, licences will be granted, as a matter of course, to ex-Servicemen on the Board of Trade's Register for Retail Traders, who wish to re-establish themselves in their former businesses after the war. As I have also stated, special steps have been taken, at my request, to bring the Register to the notice of men serving in His Majesty's Forces, both at home and overseas.

Mr. Mander

But can my right hon. Friend say whether these steps have been successful? All the persons concerned know their rights.

Mr. Dalton

It is not my fault; I have taken every step open to me and I have no reason to doubt that the register is widely known.

Mr. Levy

Is there any discrimination between ex-Servicemen and small traders whose shops have been closed and who have been directed to munitions work? Why should they not have the same privileges as ex-Servicemen?

Mr. Dalton

The Question I was asked had to do with men returning after demobilisation. It relates to ex-Servicemen but facilities are extended, under the register, to other small traders who have withdrawn during the war. There is no discrimination.

Mr. Levy

Would not demobilisation apply equally to those who have had their shops closed and who have been directed to other work under the Essential Work Order?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, but there is no such discrimination as my hon. Friend apprehends. I have tried to make that clear in previous statements to the House. This register is for the benefit of all traders who have withdrawn owing to war conditions.

Mr. Shinwell

Will licences be granted exclusively under the supervision of the Board of Trade or will there be an independent body of experts and people of understanding which will be consulted?

Mr. Dalton

We already have a system of committees, and my hon. Friend will no doubt be familiar with it. In general, these things are handled by the local price regulation committees, on which sit many people of understanding. It is not intended to disturb this arrangement.

Mr. Shinwell

Will my right hon. Friend do everything possible to assure, whether by machinery or by the spirit fortifying his conduct in this matter, to see that independent persons who wish to resume trade, whatever our views may be about that, should have the right to do so irrespective of the existence of the monopolistic undertakings?

Mr. Dalton

Certainly. This plan is not designed to protect the monopolists at all. As I have already said, persons on this register, which has been drawn up by the Board of Trade, will be entitled to have licences as of course and as of right when they come back from the Forces.

Mr. Buchanan

Is my right hon. Friend aware that frequently there are on the local price regulation committees people who will be competing with those who want to resume trade? These people are not always the fairest-minded and will my right hon. Friend consider the appointment of an independent body rather than this system of one trader against another?

Mr. Dalton

I cannot accept the statement that the local price regulation committees are not well-manned. They are doing their work exceedingly well. If you have persons drawn from various sections of the community a number will have a bias but I hope that one bias will balance another.

Mr. Hammersley

Are these committees empowered to refuse licences without assigning a reason?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir, they always assign reasons.