asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department is now in a position to issue to Captain Angus Buchanan, 40, Corstorphine Hill Gardens, Edinburgh, a licence to produce his patent furniture.

No, Sir. The quantity of timber available for furniture production has been still further reduced since my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary last wrote to the noble Lord about this application, and I am afraid the issue of a licence is not at present possible.

Cannot the President of the Board of Trade look into the possibility of this furniture being included in the utility furniture, because it has great utility value, since one man can carry a cupboard upstairs? There has been a great demand in Edinburgh for this type of furniture.

We have looked into it very carefully, and I have looked into it myself, but it is impossible to include it in utility furniture for the technical reasons given.

Viscount Hinchingbrook:

Is this not a case where a new industry is stifled by regulations?

No, Sir.