§ Sir Smedley Crookeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the concern expressed by local price regulation committees that their recommendations to institute proceedings against traders for overcharging are not always acted upon by the Central Committee, who, in some cases, state that, owing to the time available, it had not been possible for the Board of Trade to consider the matter in time to institute proceedings; and whether he will expedite decisions in the legal department of the Board of Trade, or take other steps to remedy this state of affairs so that offenders can be punished and the public protected?
§ Captain WaterhouseNo, Sir, my right hon. Friend is not aware that there has 313W been any failure on the part either of the Central Price Regulation Committee or of the solicitor's department of the Board of Trade to take proceedings in cases where the evidence justified them, and the local price regulation commmittee's report was received a reasonable time before the end of the period within which summary proceedings may be taken. If my hon. Friend knows of any such cases, I should be glad if he would let me have particulars.