§ Captain W. BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade under what statutory authority the Privy Council acts in granting licences for export?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am advised that there is no statutory authority but that the power to grant licences for export has been exercised by the Privy Council in time of war at least as far back as the 18th century as one of the powers inherent in the Privy Council. I may add that the issue of licences for export is expressly recognised in Section 4 of the Customs (War Powers) Act, 1915.