§ Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment why counsel was instructed by his Department to conduct the recent Factories Act prosecution against the construction firm Marples Ridgway Ltd., and on how many previous occasions in the past 10 years practising solicitors or barristers have been instructed to conduct Factories Act prosecutions in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithCounsel was instructed to represent my Department in this prosecution because of the exceptional importance and complexity of the issues involved. There is no record of a practising solicitor or barrister having conducted a prosecution under the Factories Act 1961 in England and Wales during the past 10 years.
§ Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is considering having all or certain prosecutions under the Factories Act conducted by practising solicitors or barristers.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo.