HC Deb 28 September 1944 vol 403 cc434-5W
Sir H. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the directions issued by the Regional Commissioner for the South-Eastern region have not been published as Statutory Rules and Orders, having regard to the fact that many of them may affect any inhabitant of the United Kingdom.

Sir J. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any Regulation has been made under Section 3, Sub-section (4) of the Rules Publication Act, 1893, exempting Regional Commissioners from the duty under Section 3, Sub-section (1) from sending to the King's Printer copies of orders or directions made by them under the Emergency Powers Act.

Colonel Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Regional Commissioners have made orders, directions and rules under the Emergency Powers Act which have not been sent to the King's Printer, despite the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the Rules Publication Act, 1893; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Mr. Levy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Directions to 53 inclusive, made by the Regional Commissioner for the South-Eastern area, have not been published as required by Section 3 of the Rules Publication Act, 1893.

Mr. Gledhill

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the directions issued by the Regional Commissioner for the South-East area, under the provisions of Defence Regulation 16A were not sent to the King's Printer in order that these should be published as Statutory Rules and Orders, as provided by Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Rules Publication Act, 1893.

Mr. H. Morrison

The question whether directions issued by Regional Commissioners should have been published as Statutory Rules and Orders is among the questions raised in proceedings which are pending before the High Court at the instance of one of my hon. Friends, and it would not be right for me to offer any opinion on a legal question which is stillsub judice. Local publicity was given in the localities affected to all Directions of a Regional Commissioner, for instance in the localities where restrictions on access to beaches were imposed. Notices were exhibited in these localities, and in view of the recent admission of visitors to the localities fresh notices have been put up. According to my information, there has been no failure to make such restrictions well known to all persons who live in, or come as visitors into, the localities in question and are liable to be affected by the Directions. I might add that in some cases the general publication might have given information useful to the enemy and Directions of this kind had often to be given at short notice and subsequently altered.