§ 32. Mr. Westasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of shops opened under licence for the sale of footwear in Monmouthshire during the past 18 months; the number of applications refused over the same period; and the conditions which must be satisfied before a licence is granted.
§ Mr. H. WilsonSince 31st December, 1945, when the Location of Retail Businesses Order was revoked, it has not been necessary to obtain a licence to open a shop for the sale of footwear.
§ Mr. WestIf that is so, why has my right hon. Friend's Department prevented the opening of shops in thickly populated areas where schools are situated?
§ Mr. WilsonThe Board of Trade do not set up businesses, nor in the case of footwear do we stop businessess from being set up. I do not think we can take responsibility in the question.
§ Mr. MaclayIn spite of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, is it not the case that the same effect is created by the refusal of the allocation of leather to shops which want to start? Is that not precisely the same as the refusal of a licence for the shop?
§ Mr. WilsonThere are certain difficulties about it, as the hon. Member knows but, in fact, the production of footwear, which is what we are dealing with, was considerably higher in recent months than before the war, so that the point the hon. Member has mentioned should not create a real difficulty.