§ Sir F. BANBURYasked the Lord Advocate if his attention has been called to the case of a man who was fined £l at Hamilton Sheriff Court on the 20th of this month for obtaining unemployed benefit when in receipt of £6 a week; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure adequate punishment for such offences?
§ Mr. MUNROI have made inquiries into the case referred to by my right hon. Friend. I am informed that the man in question was a miner and professional football player. In the former capacity he had fallen into unemployment. He consulted a justice of the peace as to his right to unemployment benefit and was advised that be was entitled to draw it. The judge who tried the case considered that, although the man was culpable in respect that his view of the law was unwarranted, he had not been consciously dishonest. I may add that an undertaking was given to refund the money wrongly drawn. In these circumstances the judge felt warranted in limiting the fine to £1. I have no reason to suppose that it is necessary to take any action on the lines suggested in the latter part of the question.