§ 86. Mr. Westasked the Minister of Food the number of wholesale licences issued by his Department since V. J. Day specifying the number issued to natural born British subjects, ex-enemy aliens and ex-Service men, respectively; and the conditions to be fulfilled before any wholesale licence is granted.
§ Mr. StracheyLicences to trade by wholesale in controlled foods are granted tobona fide wholesalers who were forced to discontinue trading owing to the war and, exceptionally, to disabled ex-Service men to whom this type of trading offers the best means of livelihood. Otherwise no licences have been granted to anyone who could not produce documentary evidence that he was trading regularly by wholesale in the commodities concerned during the period September, 1939, to August, 1941, when licensing control was first introduced, except in the case of fish and fresh fruit and vegetables, where licences are granted to suitable applicants who have the necessary premises. The analysis asked for by my hon. Friend would involve the scrutiny of a very large number of files, and I hope that he will agree with me that the work would not, in present circumstances, be justified.