§ Sir D. Thomsonasked the Lord Advocate whether his Department sanctioned the recent prosecution of a firm of stationers in the Border District of Scotland on the grounds of an overcharge on notebooks supplied to the Selkirk education authority; whether he is aware that the firm in question amended the price on the day following the sending of the original invoice and before any complaint had been made; and whether he will take steps to prevent the prosecution of firms in such circumstances where no intention to overcharge existed?
§ The Lord AdvocateI gave instructions for this prosecution. At that time I was not aware that the price had been amended on the day following the sending of the original invoice. The information before me was to the effect that a credit note had only been received by the purchaser after a complaint had been made. It was proved at the trial that this information was wrong. On the facts disclosed at the trial I would not have ordered prosecution. The last part of the Question therefore does not arise.