HC Deb 22 July 1943 vol 391 cc1081-2
68. Major Petherick

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many successful and how many unsuccessful prosecutions have taken place under Statutory Rule and Order No. 1206 of 1940?

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Captain Pilkington)

I regret that the information is not available and could not be obtained without considerable research and inquiry.

Major Petherick

In view of the importance of the subject, will my hon. and gallant Friend be good enough to make inquiries in order to give me the information?

Captain Pilkington

I cannot undertake to do that. It would mean asking all local police authorities all round the coast to make these inquiries, and I do not think the information to be gained would really be worth all that.

Major Petherick

Could not my hon. and gallant Friend merely ask the chief constables in the counties concerned, as there are only about ten or a dozen who would need to be asked?

Sir H. Williams

Is not the reason that the information is not obtained the fact that the Admiralty is in a mess over this Order?

Captain Pilkington

I regret to say that my hon. Friend is wrong.

Sir H. Williams

Is it not a fact that the Admiralty has been in a mess for the last four months, and is it not time it cleared it up?

Captain Pilkington

I merely repeat what I have already said.