§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ 10.28 p.m.
§ Mr. C. WilliamsThis is the penalty Clause which lays down the figure of £50 for summary conviction and a further sum of £100 or two years, so far as England is concerned. I have no objection to those penalties, but I want to know why they are much higher than those to be imposed by the Bill upon another country. It is not fair that there should be higher penalties for English people than for the Scottish. The English are far more amenable to discipline and more likely to keep out of difficulty. They never give trouble, if they can possibly avoid it. Why impose these appalling penalties on them and very light ones on the Scottish people? You should 899 impose equal penalties. We know that the Scots need a great deal more urging by the energy of the Executive than we do in England.
In this matter I am putting in a word for both the English and the Welsh. Surely I am entitled to some answer? I know the question is a little unexpected. I see that the Minister is trying to get an answer. Now that the Solicitor-General is here, I would suggest that, seeing that the majority of this Committee are English and Welsh, he might explain why heavier penalties are imposed in this way on one section of the community than on another.
§ 10.31 p.m.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is always difficult to co-ordinate any expressions of opinion about the differences between the law of England and the law of Scotland. All I can say is that, under Clause 20, we have followed the penalties that were prescribed in the Defence Regulations so far as England is concerned. I think that the number and character of offences is different and wider in the case of Clause 20 than in the case of the later Clause to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn attention. In the case of Scotland, the only offences dealt with are obstruction and prevention of entry.
The ChairmanMeanwhile I have been studying the Clause to which the hon. Member referred, and I find that his remarks were entirely out of order on this Clause.
§ Mr. C. WilliamsYes, Sir Dennis; but I would ask what is the basis for the penalty of £50 and what is the basis for the penalty of £100 or two years?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI had already stated that the basis was the Defence Regulations. This is exactly the same penalty, and it is not an unusual penalty for this class of offence.
Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.
Clause 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill.