§ Mr. Barrasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of prosecutions for drunkenness caused by methylated spirits during the first six months of experience under the Methylated Spirits (Sale by Retail) (Scotland) Act, 1937; and also during the corresponding six months of the previous year?
§ Mr. ColvilleThe Act referred to came into operation on the 1st January, 1938, but the local returns relate to six-monthly periods commencing on 1st May and 1st November, and comparative figures for the first six months of the year are not therefore available. The latest returns show that in the course of the six months from 1st May to 31st October, 1938, 297 persons were charged with offences of the nature referred to as compared with 1,243 persons in the corresponding six months of last year.