HC Deb 29 January 1947 vol 432 cc198-9W
75. Mr. Byers

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to observations by the stipendiary magistrate at Bow Street regarding the powers of search exercised by officials of his Department; whether he is aware that these powers are unnecessarily wide; and what steps he proposes to take to bring the present regulations governing such powers into line with the accepted practices in respect to search conducted by the police.

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir; but I cannot agree that the power of my officials to search is unnecessarily wide. The character of food offences makes it essential to retain this power. This power can be used only in respect of premises which are food undertakings.