§ 48 Mr. P. Freemanasked the Minister of Food whether he will issue more licences for food shops in the areas where it is found that shopkeepers cause queues by not arranging for sufficient time or staff to supply the public conveniently.
§ Sir B. SmithI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to.the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine and Western (Colonel Thomton-Kemsley) on 20th December last. Since the end of hostilities with Germany, nearly 10,000 licences have been granted for new retail food businesses or for the re-opening of closed businesses, including market and street stalls and hawkers. This is about 5,000 more than the number of retail businesses closed during the same period.
§ 62. Mr. Orbachasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the possibility of an abundance of fish in the near future, he will expedite the granting of licences for the opening of wet and dried fish shops.
§ Sir B. SmithAs 1 announced on 20th December last in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kincardine and Western (Colonel Thornton-Kemsley) I intend to bring about a progressive relaxation in the administration of the retail licensing system as the supply of 1148 food increases. In the last ten months for which figures are available, 2,388 licences were granted.for retail fish businesses.