§ Major Mott-Radclyffeasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to a recent case at Windsor were an ex-Serviceman was prosecuted for using surplus points coupons, given to him by his customers who did not require them; and whether he will take steps to avoid unnecessary prosecutions for purely technical offences when they are of a type which cause no hardship to the community.
§ Sir B. SmithThe prosecution to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was instituted by the Windsor Food Control Committee under powers conferred on it by the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1943, S.R.& O. No. 1304. The action of the defendant in this case gave him an unfair advantage over his fellow traders and I am in full agreement with the decision of the Food Control Committee. I am satisfied that in general prosecutions are not instituted either by food control committees or by my Department for purely technical offences.