§ 3. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Minister of Munitions how many prosecutions have taken place under Part I. and Part II., respectively, of the Munitions Act?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEUp to Saturday, 11th September, the number of prosecutions reported under Part I. of the Act was seven. The number of prosecutions under Part II. was twenty-three. Of these seven were against employers, and the remainder against workmen. These figures are exclusive of 136 appeals to Munition Tribunals against the unreasonable withholding of certificates by employers.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of these prosecutions have taken place in South Wales in relation to the recent strike, and if not will he explain why the Act was suspended in South Wales and enforced with extreme severity on the Clyde?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not know whether there has been any prosecution in South Wales, but if my hon. Friend will put down a question I will answer it.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Act has not been enforced against large bodies of men, but only against isolated individuals?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI cannot accept that view of the matter at all. There was a settlement in South Wales which made it unnecessary to carry matters to the extreme.