HC Deb 03 August 1939 vol 350 cc2648-9W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Home Secretary whether his officers receive the reports of all local authority shops inspectors; and if not, will he call for such reports annually?

Sir S. Hoare

The enforcement of the Shops Acts has been deliberately entrusted by Parliament to local authorities. An amendment to the Shops Bill of 1934 to require them to make annual returns to the Home Office was not adopted and only isolated complaints of non-enforcement have been made to me. In the circumstances, I do not feel justified in suggesting that a system of annual reports to me should now be instituted.