§ Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Food Controller whether instructions have been issued to local food committees to ter- 1781W minate the arrangement with their inspectors in June next; whether it is proposed that after that date the Orders relating to weights, measures, and prices shall be enforced by the police; whether the enforcement of these Orders is at present being carried out largely by sanitary inspectors in conjunction with their duties as food inspectors and inspectors under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, which arrangement was made at the suggestion of the Local Government Board; and whether, in the interests of the consumer and with a view to the prevention of profiteering, some arrangement could be arrived at by which these inspectors shall continue their duties so long as the Food Orders remain in operation?
Mr. ROBERTSInstructions have been issued to food control committees to the effect that a special inspecting staff should not, save in exceptional cases, be required after 30th June, and should not in any case be retained after that date, except with the sanction of the Food Commissioner. The enforcement of the Orders of this Ministry is at present carried out by local inspectors, acting under the food control committees, by divisional inspectors under the Orders of the Food Commissioner, by the police, and by inspectors of weights and measures in certain cases. There is also a staff of inspectors acting directly under the Ministry. The local inspectors are not necessarily sanitary inspectors, but these officers have frequently been employed for the purpose, as suggested in the question. The police have independent powers of prosecution, and have always assisted in the enforcement of the Orders of the Ministry of Food. It is hoped that after the end of June the work of enforcement will be effectively carried out by the divisional inspectors with the assistance of the police, save in the exceptional cases already referred to, in which I will be prepared to sanction the retention of a local staff.