§ 102. Mr. F. Macleanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further reductions he has been able to make in the number of officials authorised to carry out inspections and investigations in private and business premises without a search warrant.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think my hon. Friend will wish to have figures covering all Departments, not only those for which 91W I am responsible. In all Departments, the officials having powers of entry have been reduced by 2,875, and those having power to enter private houses by 902, as compared with the figures given in reply to my hon. Friend on 15th July last. Since June, 1951, there has been a
SCHEDULE OF POWERS OF ENTRY WITHOUT JUDICIAL WARRANT (WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE) POSSESSED BY OFFICIALS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AT THE 1ST DECEMBER, 1952 (1) Government Department (2) Officials with powers of entry on enclosed land, business premises or private houses (3) Officials included in (2) whose powers authorise them to enter private houses used exclusively as such December, 1952 December, 1952 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 1,986 Nil Ministry of Civil Aviation 50 20 Customs and Excise 1,800 115 Ministry of Education 549 Nil Ministry of Food 626 Nil Forestry Commission 25 Nil Ministry of Fuel and Power 224 Nil Ministry of Health 56 20 Home Office 150 78 Ministry of Housing and Local Government 8 Nil Inland Revenue 2,690 2,690 Ministry of Labour and National Service 2,155 Nil Ministry of Materials 5 Nil Ministry of National Insurance 1,210 Nil Ordnance Survey 800 Nil Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 102 Nil Tithe Redemption Commission 107 Nil Board of Trade 121 Nil Ministry of Transport 963 Nil War Damage Commission and Central Land Board 55 55 Department of Agriculture for Scotland 46 Nil Scottish Education Department 96 Nil Department of Health for Scotland 6 Nil Scottish Home Department 39 7 TOTALS 13,869 2,985