HC Deb 08 March 1944 vol 397 c2048
50. Mr. John Duģdale

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider the possibility of an alteration being made in paragraph 5 of Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943, so as to allow local authorities without obtaining prior approval of his Ministry to institute proceedings against persons alleged to have violated the Regulations.

The Minister of Food (Colonel Llewellin)

No, Sir.

Mr. Duģdale

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman allow local authorities the same right as private individuals to decide whether or not they should prosecute?

Colonel Llewellin

The point here, as I have explained before, is that this is a Regulation concerned with labels and advertisements, and the reason for having to have the authority of the Ministry is so as not to prosecute people two or three times over for what is in fact the same offence.