§ 31. Mr. C. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether he will issue, for the information of magistrates, a statement of what should be the governing cosiderations in determining the penalty appropriate in such cases as drunkenness in a highway or other public place, drunkenness in a highway or public place accompanied by riotous or disorderly behaviour, and drunkenness while the offender is in charge, on a highway, of a carriage, horse, cattle or propelled carriage?
§ Sir J. AndersonIn deciding what is the appropriate penalty for this or any other class of offence, the considerations which the courts take into account are the character and circumstances of the particular offence, the character, circumstances and previous record of the offender and, if the penalty is a fine, the means of the offender. These considerations are well known to magistrates, and I do not think there is any statement which I could usefully issue.
§ Mr. WilsonWhy did the right hon. Gentleman in a previous answer evade the whole point?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am not aware that I did.