§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade what powers he has invested in certain members of his staff to make inquiries into the accounts of individuals and firms on a warrant; to what extent this practice is an innovation; and if he will abandon this method of securing information.
§ Mr. BelcherOfficers of the Board of Trade, whose duties include securing compliance with Orders made by the Board of Trade relating to essential supplies, are issued with warrants under Defence Regulation 55AA authorising them—
- (a)to enter and inspect undertakings in the course of which goods to which his duties relate are manufactured, treated, repaired or supplied,
- (b)to require the production of such books, accounts and records and the furnishing of such information as
93 he may require for the purpose of securing compliance with Orders made under the Defence Regulations. This practice is not at all an innovation but has been pursued consistently since the early days of the war when controls on the manufacture and supply of consumer goods were imposed by the Board. We cannot abandon this method of securing information which represents an essential instrument, and in some cases the only instrument, for enforcing the controls we are obliged to retain to secure essential supplies, fair shares and reasonable prices.