§ 57. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Food whether his inspectors always reveal their identity, in accordance with the pledge given by the Parliamentary Secretary on 14th July, 1943, before making a purchase.
§ Colonel LlewellinTest purchases are sometimes necessary to trace and bring to conviction persons guilty of offences. The answer, therefore, is, No, Sir. The pledge referred to had reference to cases in which it is necessary for enforcement officers to ask questions of retailers or others in the course of their duty. That pledge still stands.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, recently, respectable business people, of 40 years' standing, who committed a technical offence, and were fined £75, were trapped?
§ Colonel LlewellinThat is not quite accurate. My hon. Friend has drawn my attention to that case. There were two complaints that this shop was doing conditional sales, which are, of course, prohibited. On those complaints, enforcement officers went to the shop, and, on the prosecution being brought, these men stated their view of the case.