HC Deb 01 November 1948 vol 457 cc497-9
28. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Food when he became aware that the retail licence granted by him to Mr. O. Grey to operate a retail food business at 8, Lavender Road, Reading, was never operated by that gentleman.

Mr. Strachey

On 17th June, 1948.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In view of the fact that this licence was granted by the right hon. Gentleman after overruling the local food office in regard to what the right hon. Gentleman himself described to a colleague as a most pathetic case, is it not the right hon. Gentleman's business to know that by the time the licence was granted this gentleman had been able to sell the premises, and that the effect of the grant of the licence was that he was able to charge £200 more?

Mr. Strachey

The effect of the grant of the licence was that Mr. Grey was able to get the value of the savings which he had invested in the shop by selling the value of the licence.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Does that answer mean that the right hon. Gentleman is happy that there should be a traffic in recently-granted licences?

Mr. Strachey

No, Sir, I dislike this whole system of licensing. That is why, to a very large extent, we have been freeing the retail trade from licensing during recent weeks. It is not an offence to sell a business carrying a licence.

29. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Food the length of time during which a retail food business was operated at 8, Lavender Road, Reading, by Mr. F. V. Lambert while not in possession of a licence permitting him so to do.

Mr. Strachey

Between 27th August, 1947, and 21st June, 1948.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman's Department has issued instructions that no prosecution is to follow, can he give the House his assurance that similar leniency will be shown to other people who operate a retail business without a licence?

Mr. Strachey

I am informed that my legal advisers were consulted on this matter whether any prosecution should follow and that their view was that it should not.

Mr. Hurd

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied, now that he has had an opportunity of looking into all the facts, that the decision he took originally to press the food committee to give the licence to Mr. Grey was a right and proper one?

Mr. Strachey

Mr. Grey's case brought to my notice rules which I considered then and consider now to be harsh. We amended those rules. It is a longstanding practice that when we amend rules we grant a licence in the case in which they are amended.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

is it not a fact that the legal advisers to the right hon. Gentleman's Department advised that a prosecution would lie but that the local authorities were informed that the headquarters of his Ministry thought it undesirable?

Mr. Strachey

Oh, no, Sir. I dislike that suggestion very much. I resent that suggestion. The legal authorities of my department considered that a prosecution would not succeed and they recommended that it should not be taken.