HC Deb 10 November 1948 vol 457 cc1552-3
51. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Food whether he will direct food executive officers to report what proportion of applications for catering licences have in the last 12 months been granted and refused for licensed and unlicensed premises respectively; and whether he will publish the figures for each county Or region in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Dr. Summerskill

I am afraid the amount of work involved to extract such figures would be excessive. The results would not in any case show how many public houses had received licences, since licensed restaurants, clubs and hotels would also be included.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Minister aware that there is a feeling amongst licensed victuallers that in their applications for catering licences they are being unfairly treated in comparison with cafés? Is he aware that that feeling is encouraged by a letter which, as the hon. Lady knows, was written by one of the food executive officers to a licensed victualler who applied for a catering licence, in which the food executive officer said that, on the advice of the Ministry, unless a strong case could be made out that the granting of a licence would reduce queues at cafés and restaurants, it could not be granted?

Dr. Summerskill

I do not think there is any basis for complaint. I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that everybody, including licensees of public houses and fish friers, would all like a little bit more and all of them will argue that they have been unfairly treated.

Mr. Keeling

What about the letter I quoted?

Mr. J. Lewis

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that her Department have dogmatically adhered to the principle that they will grant licences only in cases where there is a consumers' need and, in the circumstances, will she be quite sure that the test of consumers' need applies equally to small cafes and to licensed premises?

Dr. Summerskill

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Harrison

Is it a fact that the number of licences granted to licensed premises during the last two years has increased considerably by comparison with the previous two years?

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