§ 75. Mrs. Willsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on coupon floats and building licences for people wishing to open non food shops.
§ Mr. BelcherAfter careful consideration we have decided that, in future, coupon floats to trade in rationed goods will be granted only to the war-disabled and to ex-traders. Applications for coupon floats should in future be made to the Board of Trade's regional controller, and not, as hitherto, to the local price regulation committee. As regards repairs to non-food shop premises, applications for licences should in future be made, not to the Board of Trade, but to the Ministry of Works or the local authority, according to whether the estimated cost of work exceeds or falls below £100. The issue of licences will depend upon whether this can be done without detriment to more urgent demands on the building materials and labour available in the area. I should make it clear that these arrangements apply only to nonfood shops. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food asks me to say that for the present the existing arrangement for considering applications to open, adapt or repair food shops and catering establishments will continue to operate.
§ Mrs. WillsWill the needs of new areas be borne in mind in this matter?
§ Mr. BelcherIn all these cases we take consumer needs into account. That will mean, of course, new areas.