§ Mr. Garry Allighanasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the anxiety in the perambulator industry caused by the granting of manufacturing licences to about 30 individuals and firms, although existing manufacturing facilities are more than sufficient to cope with the output required by the public; that the potential output of existing manufacturers is greater than that of prewar years; and if he will give instructions that no further manufacturing licences shall be granted until it can be proved that the existing manufacturers have not the facilities to produce what is required by the public.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe licences to which my hon. Friend refers are issued under the Perambulators (Control of Supply) Order (S.R. & O. 1942 No. 2342). The purpose of this Order is solely to ensure that all prams are properly price-controlled. The prewar manufacturers are assisted by the allocation of scarce materials, such as leather-cloth and ply-1504W wood, which are reserved for them. But I must add that, as supplies of these materials increase, I shall consider sympathetically the claims of factories in the Development Areas.