§ Captain Bullockasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued delay in dealing with applications for licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order, he will arrange to set up local committees to relieve the pressure on the existing regional offices.
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir. The licensing system under the Location of Retail Businesses Order is administered on my behalf, in the London area by the Local Retail Licensing Committee, and in the provinces by the Local Price Regulation Committees. Delay in dealing with applications for licences is due mainly to the shortage of trained staff assisting these committees. Committee staffs have already been strengthened and further additions to their numbers are being made as quickly as possible.