HC Deb 02 March 1943 vol 387 cc455-7
9. Sir H. Williams

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an undertaking not to use the powers assumed by the Board under paragraph 2 of the Board of Trade (Information and Inspection) Order, 1943, S.R.O. 1943, No. 102, without notice to the principals of the trade or business against which they are invoked and unless something may have been done by or in relation to the carrying on of that trade or business which constitutes an offence against some Statute, Regulation or Order?

Mr. Dalton

It is not intended under this Order that my officers should enter any premises without asking to see the person in charge; but I cannot give any undertaking to confine its use to cases in which an offence has been committed. As I explained to my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, the Order is not designed to detect crimes, but to assist the Board of Trade to carry out their day-to-day duties in relation to the general war-time control of industry.

Sir H. Williams

Are we to understand the object is to introduce a new form of snooping?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir. The hon. Gentleman is constantly seeking to sow ill will between the Board of Trade and the trading community, but he is singularly unsuccessful. These visits are welcomed in the great majority of cases.

Sir H. Williams

How can the right hon. Gentleman say that the traders welcome these visits, having regard to the fact that none have taken place?

12. Major Lyons

asked the President of the Board of Trade the occasions to date on which he has found it necessary to invoke the machinery of Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 102, of 1943?

Mr. Dalton

Up to the present on one occasion only.

Major Lyons

In view of the welcome to which the right hon. Gentleman has just referred does he not think there has been extraordinarily little co-operation in the exercise of these large powers on only one occasion?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir. This is one particular Order. We are not talking about other Orders.

Sir H. Williams

Having regard to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has said these visits are welcomed, is he aware that the only one who has been visited has written me a most indignant letter?

Major Lyons

Does the right hon. Gentleman not know that on the contrary to any welcome to this Order, all sober-minded traders who have considered it regard it as the most monstrous piece of Gestapo machinery his Department has yet introduced?

14. Miss Ward

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason an official of his Department sought to search the premises of Delaney & Son, Limited, 18, Tib Lane, Manchester 2?

16. Captain C. S. Taylor

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make about the forcible entry of a Board of Trade official into the premises of Delaney & Son, Limited, tailors, of Manchester?

17. Major Thorneycroft

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make upon the forcible entry of a Board of Trade official into the premises of Messrs. Delaney and Son, Manchester?

Mr. Dalton

No officer of the Board of Trade has sought to search, or has forcibly entered, the premises referred to. An officer paid a routine visit to Mr. Delaney's shop recently to inspect his coupon records and give any advice he might require about the Consumer Rationing Order. Such visits are primarily intended to assist traders and are normally welcomed by them.

Miss Ward

Did Mr. Delaney know that the officer was visiting his premises?

Mr. Dalton

I have a full report of the visit that was paid and of what Mr. Delaney said. I do not want in any way to prejudice Mr. Delaney, but I would ask the hon. Lady to take it from me that Mr. Delaney had no ground whatever for complaint with regard to the interview.

Sir H. Williams

Did Mr. Delaney refuse the request of the right hon. Gentleman's official?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir; Mr. Delaney and my official got on perfectly well together so far as the business about which the call was made was concerned. If I am pressed, I can give more statements about this matter, but it would not help Mr. Delaney, and I would much rather not do so.

Sir H. Williams

Is it not a fact that Mr. Delaney refused admission to the official unless he was accompanied by a police officer and a search warrant?

Mr. Dalton

That is not correct.

Sir H. Williams

Does that mean that the letter Mr. Delaney has written to me contains a series of untruths?

Mr. Dalton

If he said that, it undoubtedly does, and if my hon. Friend will send it to me, I will have it examined.