§ 38. Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the abandonment of the appeal by the Crown against the decision of the sheriff at Edinburgh on 19th October that the presence of diphenylamine in motor spirit cannot be proved by analysis, he will now discontinue proceedings instituted in reliance upon the definition of commercial petrol contained in S.I. 1948, No. 1127; and how many convictions have been obtained under the said instrument.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe reasons for the abandonment of the Edinburgh appeal do not, I am advised, apply to English cases and the appeal in the parallel case decided at Bromley is being pursued. I do not propose to discontinue proceedings instituted in England. The total number of convictions under the Motor Spirit (Regulation) Act in respect of commercial petrol to date is 808.
§ Sir J. MellorDoes the Minister mean by his reply that, having fled from Scotland leaving only worthless certificates 767 behind him, he is now proposing to offer similar certificates in the courts of England?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe hon. Gentleman is perhaps not aware that since these cases were heard we have in fact obtained no fewer than 50 convictions under the original order.