66. Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Food under which statutory order he has empowered local sub-committees of food control committees to be established, to take action for alleged offences against the statutory orders made by the Minister of Food, without first being confirmed by the whole of the food control committee?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonBy the Food Control Committees (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Enforcement Order, 1939. I have authorised food control committees (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) to prosecute any summary offence against the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, occasioned by any breach of an Order made by me under 218 these Regulations. Under the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1939, food control committees may appoint sub-committees from among their members with such powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by any food control committee with my approval, and in a number of cases my approval has been given to the assignment to such sub-committees of the power to prosecute summary offences.
Mr. AndersonIs it true that these sub-committees have been given power to prosecute without first consulting the food control committees?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt depends in each case on the extent of the delegation by the food control committee to its own sub-committee.
Mr. AndersonHas the right hon. Gentleman not also issued a circular suggesting that there should be sub-committees with full control to prosecute, without the food control committees being first consulted, and is that not a breach of the understanding when the matter was first discussed in this House?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir, I do not think that that entirely represents the position. I think it has been generally recognised that it is a convenient way of despatching business to have complaints investigated by a smaller body than the full food control committees.
Mr. AndersonIn view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.