HC Deb 17 July 1963 vol 681 c668

Lords Amendment: In page 48, line 41, at end insert: and any document displayed with any goods offered or exposed for sale which relates to the price or quantity of the goods and which the inspector has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings under this Act".

Mr. Denzil Freeth

I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Amendment deals with the documents which an inspector of weights and measures may seize and detain. The House will remember that the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) moved an Amendment in this spirit in Standing Committee, and the question arose as to where one should draw the line as regards the documents which a weights and measures inspector might reasonably seize and detain for use during proceedings under the Bill.

I then said that as a basic principle I did not think it right that an inspector should have general powers of seizure and examination not strictly necessary for carrying out his duties. However, in subsequent discussion in another place, it was agreed that the main problem centred upon misleading tickets which were displayed with the goods and which inspectors might therefore need to produce in court as evidence.

This Amendment was therefore made, and I hope it meets the point which the right hon. Member for Battersea, North had in mind when he moved his Amendment in Standing Committee. I commend the Amendment to the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.