§ Mr. LEES-SMITHasked the Home Secretary on what authority a general search of the houses and headquarters of the arrested Communists was carried out in October of last year; why papers, furniture, etc., were taken away without regard to their possible relevance to the case; and before what magistrate and on what grounds a search warrant was sworn out?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt has been the practice from time immemorial for police officers to search the dwelling of a person for whose arrest a warrant has been issued, whenever it seems likely that any material evidence, whether for or against the accused, can be obtained. The practice is brought to the cognisance of Courts almost daily, and has never, so far as I know, been adversely commented on by a Judge—much less held to be illegal. The last part of the question does not arise.