§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can make any statement of the reasons for the search carried out by two officers of his Department at the house of an alderman of the Gloucestershire County Council and on the result of this search; whether in future reasonable inquiries will be made before searching the houses of well-known public men; and whether he proposes to take any action against the informer?
§ Mr. MabaneThe house of the gentleman referred to was visited by two enforcement inspectors of this Department as a result of information received of alleged hoarding of foodstuffs. No evidence of any offence came to light. So far as is practicable preliminary inquiries are always made before a formal investigation is started in such cases. A suitable communication has been sent to the informant.