HC Deb 27 March 1973 vol 853 cc286-7W
Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider introducing legislation to delete the words "reasonable cause to suspect that an offence under this Act has been committed" from Section 28(1)(b) of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and to substitute the words "for the purpose of determining whether the provisions of the Act are being complied with".

Sir G. Howe

No. I do not think it right that a trader's books should be open to routine examination. The Act already empowers an enforcement officer to examine books and documents if a complaint, or his own examination of the goods on offer, leads him to believe That an offence has occurred.