§ Sir R. Glynasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which are the nine Departments whose officers are at present authorised to carry out inspections and investigations into private houses and premises without a search warrant; whether, before this is done, permission has to be obtained from a Permanent Under-Secretary or from whom is such authority obtained; and on what sources of information is action taken.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe required particulars are as follow:
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Department concerned and purpose of entry. Manner of authorisation. Sources of Information leading to action. Admiralty. Inspection ot contractor's books. Specific authority of Permanent Secretary or an Under-Secretary in each case. Examination of accounts in nor-mal course. Ministry of Labour & National Service. (a) Inquiries under Control of Engagement Order. Individual authority issued by a senior officer not below rank of Asst. Regional Controller. Information coming into possession of the Dept. during the course of day to day work. (b) Determents under National Service (Armed Forces) Acts Ministry of Works. Inspection of land under Defence Regulation No. 85. Power no longer exercised. Ministry of Health (a) Inspection of Insurance Doctors records. (a) Regional medical officers have general power. In normal course of duty. (b) Premises for manufacture of therapeutic sub-stances (b) Medical officers empowered under Regulations Ministry of Food. (a) Food undertakings Warrants issued to enforcement officers by Permanent Secretary and Under-Secretary. Variety of information from the public and from departmental investigation. (b) Rodent and Insect Inspection Warrant issued by Permanent Secretary. Board of Trade. Inspection of trading activities. Specific authority of an Asst. Secretary. Trade associations, notification by other traders or member of the public. Examination of records and returns of other traders. Ministry of Agriculture. Various General certificate of authority issued on behalf of the Minister by a Senior Officer. Wide variety of outside sources and also as result of routine investigations (e.g., arising out of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease). Department of Agriculture for Scotland. Various General authority issued on behalf of the Secretary of State. Usually arising out of applications by persons concerned for statutory licences; routine inspections under regulatory legislation; requests by local sanitary authorities or police: com-plaints received. Ministry of Transport. (a) Inspection of vehicles No special authority as entry is usually by invitation. In normal course of duty. Exceptionally on complaint received by Regional Transport Commissioner. (b) Removal of offending traffic signs. Specific authority of an Asst. Secretary.