MR. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea District)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what rule of the Common Law, or under what Statute, were the officers of the Metropolitan Police Force who were entrusted with the execution of a warrant of apprehension against Bourtzev for an offence against the Offences against the Person Act, 1861, justified in breaking and entering the premises in question to search for papers belonging to Bourtzev after the execution of the warrant, or in seizing or taking away papers of Bourtzev's without any other warrant than the warrant of apprehension; in whose custody are the papers of Bourtev at the present time; has any person not concerned in the prosecution of Bourtzev had access to them; and will he undertake that no agent of a foreign Government shall have access to Bourtzev's papers directly or indirectly, or receive copies thereof?
§ THE HOME SECRETARYI have already informed the hon. Member that what was done in this case was in accordance with the usual practice of the 1210 police, and I see no grounds for the view that any illegality was committed. The papers are in possession of the police. They have been seen by no one except the prosecution, and I have no intention of allowing the agent of any foreign Government to have access to them.