HC Deb 29 April 1959 vol 604 c1394
The Lord Advocate

I beg to move, in page 8, line 13 to leave out "twenty pounds" and to insert: fifty pounds, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such fine and imprisonment". This is another penalty Amendment and relates to the offence of obstruction. Much was said in Committee about the seriousness of this offence and we agree that the original penalty was not steep enough. We propose a penalty of £50 for the first offence, and £100 or three months for subsequent offences.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

As I raised this during the Committee stage of the Bill, I should like to thank the Lord Advocate for having considered the arguments put forward by myself and some of my hon. Friends and for having adjusted this so that the penalties relating to this part of the Bill are now more equitable, though I got into trouble for using that word in Committee in relation to the penalties in other parts of the Bill.

Amendment agreed to.