§ 40. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food when, to whom, and in what form his decision to permit applications for transfer of a retail licence to be made within three months of closure of former business was promulgated; in how many cases has he applied this decision retrospectively; and in how many cases has he permitted such transfer after a longer period than three months.
§ Mr. StracheyThe decision to extend the period from 10 days to three months was promulgated in the form of a circular issued to all Food Executive Officers on 11th August, 1947. No applications have been made to the Headquarters of my Department to apply the new regulation retrospectively, nor has this been done except in the case of Mr. Grey. As this was the case which caused me to amend the regulations, which I considered, and consider, to have been far too harsh, Mr. Grey's application was granted in accordance with my Department's precedents. No further cases can be allowed after a longer period than three months unless very special circumstances can be adduced.
§ 41. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food on what date he became aware of the fact that Mr. Kent had submitted an application for a retail licence at 8, Lavender Road, Reading, prior to that submitted by Mr. O. Grey.
§ Mr. StracheyThe attention of the Headquarters of my Department was first drawn to the existence of Mr. Kent's application on 28th August, 1947, on receipt of a copy of a resolution passed by the Reading Food Control Committee on 22nd. August.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that answer indicate that the right hon. Gentleman and his Department did not pay attention to the transcript note of the proceedings on Mr. Grey's appeal, which took place in May, and which, on the first page, indicates the existence of a previous application?
§ Mr. StracheyI understood it arose from the fact that Mr. Kent made no appeal, and, therefore, the Headquarters of the Ministry, as distinct from the Reading Food Control Committee, had no knowledge of Mr. Kent's application until 28th August.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the Minister aware that, on the first page of the transcript of the proceedings on Mr. Grey's appeal, there appears a notification of Mr. Kent's existence and of his application, and is it not a fact that the transcript note of those proceedings was forwarded to his Ministry when the matter was being considered?
§ Mr. StracheyI think this was an appeal from the Reading Food Control Committee to the Divisional Food Officer, not to Headquarters.