Orders of the Day — Ex-Servicemen (Retail Business Licences)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 November 1945.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Ellis Smith Mr Ellis Smith , Stoke-on-Trent Stoke 12:00, 5 November 1945

Let me assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that if the Government remain in power, the returning ex-Servicemen will not be disillusioned in the same way as many of us were after the last war. The hon. Gentleman who opened the Debate was good enough to congratulate the Government on their policy with regard to the administration of Scheme C. We are pleased to have that placed on record. Then he said that the men in the Forces are now looking forward to coming home and starting in business. Those of us who served in the last war can realise that thousands of our men who have served this country so well in this war will be looking forward to coming home. The hon. Gentleman went on to say that we did not like private enterprise. I do not know why he should have introduced that this evening, but let me assure him and all those who are inclined to support him, that this Government and the people who are supporting it will prove to be the best friends of the small business men, whom they will defend against the monopolists and big business men.