§ 65. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many leather-purchasing licences were granted in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1946; and why it is not possible to admit the claims of anyone who was not established in the trade prior to the war.
§ Sir S. CrippsI assume that my hon. Friend's Question relates to licences to purchase leather for the manufacture of leather goods other than footwear. The total number of such licences during the period mentioned was 16,000. Owing to the shortage of light leather, licences can normally only be issued to established firms to acquire a small proportion of their 1940 consumption.