HC Deb 15 December 1949 vol 470 cc2892-3
17. Mr. Keeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the largest number of summonses for which application was made by his Department at Bow Street, on any one day this year, in respect of failure to render returns required for the census of production; and bow many summonses were issued on such application.

Mr. H. Wilson

Eight summonses were applied for on 12th and 18th November, 1949, respectively; and eight summonses were issued on each occasion.

Mr. Keeling

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that on one day this year his Department applied at Bow Street for 7,000 summonses on this account, and that the magistrate refused to grant anything like that number? He issued a thousand but insisted on their being distributed among different courts.

Mr. Wilson

The information which I have just given the hon. Member is the information given to me. If there were circumstances of the kind he has mentioned I should be glad to look into them and, if I receive different information, to correct what I have said.

18. Mr. Keeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many clerks of his Department have been sworn in before a Bow Street magistrate under the Official Secrets Act during the last 12 months to deal with returns made by companies and firms.

Mr. H. Wilson

During the 12 months ended 30th November, 1949, 311 officers of my Department have made declarations before a magistrate at Bow Street that they will not improperly disclose the contents of individual returns.

Mr. Keeling

As the returns contain the answers to eight pages of questions, might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is satisfied that the information is not out of date by the time it is collated? Further, is he satisfied that the employment of large numbers of people both to prepare and collate these returns is really justified?

Mr. Wilson

This matter was debated on a number of occasions when the Census of Production Act was going through the House. My answer to the hon. Member is that the information will certainly be of great value and great use, and that the use of the staff upon it is thoroughly justified.