§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that proceedings were instituted recently by his Department against two miners for being late at work two minutes on three occasions and one minute on five occasions; that the sheriff at the Edinburgh Court, who tried the men, declared that such proceedings were preposterous; and what disciplinary action has been taken against his officers responsible for instituting these proceedings.
§ Mr. J. S. C. ReidYes, Sir, I am informed that the result of these men being one or two minutes late at the pithead on these occasions was that they were at least 20 minutes late in reaching their working places and that production was hindered for those periods. In my view there was adequate ground for prosecution, especially as the men had been previously convicted of similar offences. Unfortunately, the full effect of the offences was not explained to the sheriff. I am taking steps to see that fuller explanations are available in similar cases in future.