§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Dundee, West, Official Report, 12 May c. 233–34, if he will outline the reasons for the decision in 1980 (a) to prosecute only nine employers under the Wages Council Act when 12,154 establishments in Great Britain visited were found to be paying below wages council minimum rates and (b) to prosecute no employers in Scotland when 1,437 establishments in Scotland visited were found to be paying below wages council minimum rates.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn accordance with long-established practice, prosecution is not considered unless there is clear evidence of a deliberate or repeated offence, and the decision whether or not to prosecute depends in each case on the nature and circumstances of the offence. These considerations apply equally in Scotland.