§ Mr. Byersasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the procedure adopted and the basis upon which the assessment is made when determining whether to grant a shoe depôot receiving licence; and by whom he is advised in determining the needs of a particular locality.
§ Sir S. CrippsApplications for licences to open boot and shoe repair receiving depôts should be made to the Board's 129W regional controller of the district in which the depôt will be situated. Licences are granted automatically to ex-Servicemen or others who were in business previously and were forced to close because of the war, and now wish to re-open at their former place of business. If the shop is in a completely new district, the local facilities are taken into consideration. If the applicant has not been in business previously and is taking over an existing business, a licence is also granted automatically. If the applicant has not been in business and wishes to open a new business, a licence is granted only if there is a need for an additional receiving depôt. The need for additional repair businesses is assized on the basis of the population of the area concerned, and the number of operatives actually on repairs, the average waiting period, distance from the nearest repairers, and other relevant information bearing upon each individual case. Each regional controller has a competent technical staff who advise on whether a licence should be issued.