§ Sir R. Taskerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that for an offence against Regulation 76B of contravening a prohibition or restriction on the export of goods, default in payment of a fine of £ 300 will carry a maximum of six months' imprisonment, while for a similar offence against the Customs Act the same fine will carry a maximum of 12 months' imprisonment; and whether he will consider doing away with this anomaly by providing the same scale of punishment for the same offence, whether under Defence Regulations or the Customs Act?
§ Sir J. AndersonIf my hon. Friend has in mind an offence against Defence (General) Regulation 76B (I), dealt with summarily under Regulation 92, the maximum fine is £100 and three months' imprisonment could be ordered if the fine be not paid. If the offender be prosecuted under Regulation 76B on indictment, the statutory provisions to which the Question refers in regard to imprisonment in default of payment of a fine would not apply, as they relate only to fines imposed on summary convictions. I do not consider that any action is called for.