§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that one Bernstein, recently sentenced to a fine of £2,600 or six months at Portsmouth for Excise and black market offences, was recently given a licence by the authorities in spite of several previous convictions; and what precautions are taken to see that licences are only granted to persons of good character?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the Question. With regard to the second, there is no general provision in the law empowering the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to refuse to issue an Excise wholesale dealer's licence, such as Bernstein took out, to any person on grounds of character. Bernstein's conviction causes his licence to be forfeited, and a new licence cannot be granted to him for the remainder of the licence-year.