§ 42. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of prosecutions from August, 1945, to the latest available date for civilian offences committed in contravention of Orders in Council and regulations which were in existence during the period covered but were not in existence in 1938; the total number of convictions; the total number of persons imprisoned; and the total amount of fines and other monetary penalties imposed for such offences.
§ Mr. EdeThe figures available to my Department relate only to offences against the Defence (General) Regulations and Orders made there under, and do not show the number of prosecutions or the total amount of fines During the period August, 1945, to March, 1946, inclusive, the number of persons found guilty of such offences was 17,110 of whom 14,585 were fined, and 662 sentenced to imprisonment.
§ Sir W. SmithersDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the continuance of these Regulations is. stifling national recovery, and will he in the Cabinet try to get them removed as soon as possible?
§ Mr. EdeNo, Sir. I cannot admit the first part of the supplementary question. I would point out that the number of prosecutions in 1944 was 143,000, compared with 17,000 during the period in which I have been in office.