HC Deb 27 July 1972 vol 841 cc352-3W
26. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to provide for the registration of window cleaners, as proposed by the National Federation of Master Window Cleaners, details of which have been sent to him.

Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in respect of the proposal for registration of window cleaners sent to him by the National Federation of Master Window Cleaners.

Mr. Lane

No. The right of an individual to carry on a lawful occupation ought not to be subject to a requirement to register unless it is essential in the public interest. On the information before me I cannot see that any such considerations apply to window cleaners.

27. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and in what percentage of cases in which shoppers were acquitted of shoplifting charges brought by self-service stores or supermarkets in the last year for which figures are available were the acquitted persons awarded costs against the prosecutors.

Mr. Carlisle

I regret that no statistical information is available to relate the outcome of cases to orders for costs made on acquittal or conviction.