§ Mr. Woolmer asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each decade since 1945, how many charges have been brought, and how many convictions secured, in England and Wales under section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875;
§ (2) for each decade since 1945, how many charges have been brought, and how many convictions secured, in England and Wales under section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 in cases where the events and circumstances concerned occurred during and in the course of an industrial dispute;
§ (3) when the last successful prosecution was made in England and Wales under section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 in a case where the events and circumstances concerned occurred during and in the course of an industrial dispute.
§ Mr. Mayhew:The total numbers of defendants proceeded against and found guilty of principal offences under section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" under the offence heading 224W of "intimidation"—offence classification number 10 or 145. Information on the circumstances of those offences is not collected centrally.
Mr. Woolmer asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what: is the maximum sentence that can be imposed on persons found guilty of charges brought under section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875.
§ Mr. Mayhew:Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875, as amended by schedule 13 to the Criminal Law Act 1977, provides maximum penalties of £50 or three months' imprisonment.