§ 28. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of retail business premises, in the following categories, which have been closed since the outbreak of war: branches of multiple stores, branches of co-operative societies and shops of all other types, respectively.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Waterhouse)Up to the 18th March, 11,490 applications had been entered on the register of withdrawing traders. Of these, 2,663 were in respect of branches of multiples; 173 in respect of branches of co-operative societies; and 8,654 in respect of shops of all other types.
§ Lieut.-Commander HutchisonDoes not the answer emphasise the point that the small private shops are suffering the most?
§ Captain WaterhouseI do not think that it does, having regard to the proportion to the probable number of multiple shops, of which we have no accurate figures.
§ Mr. R. J. TaylorHave the co-operative societies had any special privileges in this matter?
§ Captain WaterhouseNo section of the retail trade has had any special privileges.