§ 22. Mr. HOGGEasked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the variations in punishments meted out by the munitions tribunals, he will arrange for one chairman to sit continuously, and so avoid such discrepancies?
§ The MINISTER of MUNITIONS (Mr. Lloyd George)As there are sixty-five munitions tribunals distributed over the principal towns of the United Kingdom, I fear that the suggestion made by my hon. Friend is impracticable.
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in spite of that, he cannot arrange for a permanent chairman in each locality?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will consider that.
§ 23. Mr. HOGGEasked the Minister of Munitions whether he can state the number of cases settled privately by officers of his Department by means of interview instead of prosecutions before munitions tribunals; whether, in the majority of cases, no further action is necessary; and whether, in view of the success of interviewing, he will consider extending this method and avoid the tribunals altogether?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am not able to give the precise number of cases settled by officers of my Department, but it is part of their daily duty to interview persons against whom complaints have been made, and I am hopeful that in the majority of cases, after interview, further action will prove unnecessary. It is, of course, impossible to judge of this finally at the present moment. I am extending the method in question, but I do not anticipate that it will be possible to avoid all recourse to the munitions tribunals.