§ Commander Maitlandasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that some ex-Servicemen who have been granted Board of Trade licences to set up bicycle repair shops and other similar shops are unable to find any firm to supply them with the necessary goods; and whether some action will be taken in connection with the granting of these licences to ensure that parallel steps are taken to ensure that manufacturers and wholesalers will be able to give the same facilities to the newly-licenced ex-Servicemen as to existing traders.
§ Sir S. CrippsA licence is not required to open a bicycle or other repair business which is not associated with a retail business. The supply position of some repair parts is still difficult, but I am assured that ex-Servicemen are given the most sympathetic consideration in the allocation of available supplies. Should any ex-Serviceman find, after application to wholesalers and to the Cycle Trade Union, that he is unable to obtain a reasonable supply, I will certainly look into the case if details are provided.