§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prosecutions have been instituted under Part II, Section 30 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966, in Scotland since its inception; how many were successful and unsuccessful respectively; and how these figures compare with those in other regions of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DeanI regret the precise information requested is not available. However, the numbers of cases in which convictions were obtained under Section 30 of the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966, or the corresponding provision in Section 51 of the National Assistance Act 1948, in the last three calendar years totalled 1,148 in Scotland and 1,009 in England and Wales. (The number of convictions in Scotland exceed those for England and Wales because of variations in the laws governing the enforcement of maintenance orders.) In addition, there were 16 cases in Scotland and 17 in England and Wales which were dismissed or withdrawn, or in which the charges were found not proven. At the end of 1969 there were 380 warrants outstanding in Scotland and about 600 in England and Wales.