HC Deb 27 February 1934 vol 286 cc910-1
7. Miss HORSBRUGH

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions for drunkenness there have been in Scotland in each of the last 10 years; and how many of the convictions each year were attributed to the drinking of methylated spirit and surgical spirit?

Mr. SKELTON

I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

In the 10 years ending 31st December, 1932, the numbers of persons convicted in Scotland of offences involving drunkenness were as follow:

Year.
1923 … … … 13,647
1924 … … … 14,051
1925 … … … 13,375
1926 … … … 12,369
1927 … … … 12,471
1928 … … … 11,944
1929 … … … 11,930
1930 … … … 10,848
1931 … … … 10,202
1932 … … … 9,788

The above figures do not afford an accurate measure of the total number of offences involving drunkenness, as the element of drunkenness may have been present in many cases where another offence (e.g., breach of the peace) was charged.

It is not possible to state the total number of persons who were in each of these years convicted of offences involving drunkenness due to the drinking of methylated spirits (including surgical spirit). Returns obtained in respect of six burghs (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, Inverness, and Stirling) show that in these burghs the numbers of convictions for such offences were as follow:

Year ended 30th April.
1924 … … … 1,497
1925 … … … 985
1926 … … … 1,088
1927 … … … 969
1928 … … … 969
1929 … … … 1,017
1930 … … … 963
1931 … … … 1,031
1932 … … … 1,106
1933 … … … 1,002

These figures include a considerable proportion of repeated convictions in respect of the same persons.