42. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that on 27th February three men, who stated that they were acting on instructions from the local food committee, searched the house, 26, Brownlow Road, Bounds Green, W.; that the only person in the House at the time, other than the search party, was a young girl; that they opened and searched the private desks and drawers and ransacked the wardrobes and boxes in the bedrooms; and that they compelled the young girl to carry a step-ladder from the garden into the attic to enable them to get on the roof of the house; on whose information this search was made; whether any hoarding of food was found; and whether the Food Controller sanctions or approves of actions of this kind?
§ Mr. CLYNESThis search was authorised by the Divisional Food Commissioner, and a young lady who was in the house at the time gave the inspecting officers every assistance in her power. It is not the practice to disclose the name of informants. It is not intended to take further action as the result of the search, and I should be sorry to think that the search had caused annoyance to the members of the household.
Mr. WILSONCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the information given to the Food Commissioner or the executive officer of the local committee was anonymous or not?
§ Mr. CLYNESI cannot believe that the Divisional Food Commissioner would act upon anonymous information. If I may add an opinion, I am afraid that inspection in this case was certainly an unfortunate event.
§ Mr. CLYNESYes.
Mr. WILSONCan he say whether the only evidence of hoarding in this house was 1 1b. of petrol which had been in the house for eighteen years?
§ Mr. LOUGHCan the hon. Gentleman give the House any idea of the sort of information upon which the Department of the Food Controller proceeds?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is too wide a question.