§ 80. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food how many potato grower-salesmen's licences have been issued each year since potato control licensing regulations were introduced by his Department; and how many such licences have been issued each month during the past year.
§ Mr. StracheyAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the table:
§ The numbers of grower-salesman licences issued each year since August, 1942, when permanent licences were first introduced, are as follows:
| 1st August-31st December, 1942 | … | 10,054 |
| 1943 | … | 824 |
| 1944 | … | 428 |
| 1945 | … | 204 |
| 1946 | … | 175 |
| 1947 | … | 160 |
| 1948 | … | 982 |
| 1st January-31st March, 1949 | … | 104 |
§ The numbers issued in each of the last 12 months were:
| 1948 | ||
| April | … | 7 |
| May | … | 5 |
| June | … | 195 |
| July | … | 213 |
| August | … | 159 |
| September | … | 109 |
| October | … | 63 |
| November | … | 105 |
| December | … | 77 |
| 1949 | ||
| January | … | 55 |
| February | … | 32 |
| March | … | 17 |
§ 81. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food how many ware potato merchants' licences have been issued to date; and how many have been issued each month during the last 12 months.
§ Mr. StracheyAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon. Gentleman persisting in his former policy of keeping the granting of these licences to the minimum?
§ Mr. StracheyWe are still having to license potato merchants. During the present period of control I am afraid that that is inevitable.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon. Gentleman keeping to the minimum the number of licences he grants?
§ Mr. StracheyI am not quite clear what the hon. and gallant Member means by that, but we are keeping it to the figure we think is a proper one in existing circumstances.
§ Major Legge-BourkeHas the right hon. Gentleman not changed his policy in regard to the granting of these licences? According to my information he has been granting more lately.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. I do not think there is any change. We are granting the ones which it seems proper to grant in present circumstances.
§ Following is the table:
§ 4,140 ware potato merchants' licences had been issued up to 31st March, 1949, and of this number 3,634 are now in force. The numbers issued each month during the last 12 months were as follows:
| 1948 | ||
| April | … | 3 |
| May | … | 1 |
| June | … | 21 |
| July | … | 30 |
| August | … | 9 |
| September | … | 17 |
| October | … | 13 |
| November | … | 21 |
| December | … | 25 |
| 1949 | ||
| January | … | 10 |
| February | … | 17 |
| March | … | 22 |