§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can indicate the Act of Parliament by which it is decided that raids on offices of societies and the private residences of the officials of societies and the detention of files and addresses are constituted legal punishment for criticism of public officials; and whether he can define the categories of public officials whose reputations will in future be safeguarded by such acts of precaution?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe matters which the hon. Member probably has in his mind are dealt with under powers conferred under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which are made by the authority of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Act of 1914. Regulation No. 51 gives power to the competent military authority and others to search premises where a contravention of the Defence of the Realm Regulations is suspected.