§ Mr. Leonardasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions were initiated by his Department under the Advertisements (Hire Purchase) Acts of 1957 and 1967 in each of the years from 1958 to 1972, inclusive; how many of these were successful in each year; and what was the yearly total of fines imposed.
§ Sir G. HoweThe following are the figures. However, my Department is not solely responsible for enforcing this legislation and local weights and measures 223W authorities have increasingly taken action to enforce it in recent years. I have no record of prosecutions by them or by other persons.
PROSECUTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE ADVERTISEMENTS (HIRE PURCHASE) ACTS 1957 AND 1967 Year Number of prosecutions Number of Guilty Findings Total Fines Imposed £ 1958 … … 2 2 12 1959 … … — — — 1960 … … 22 18 179 1961 … … 7 5 146 1962 … … 11 10 84 1963 … … 9 9 130 1964 … … 3 3 10 1965 … … 2 2 40 1966 … … 8 8 210 1967 … … 2 2 65 1968 … … 2 2 35 1969 … … 1 1 10 1970 … … — — — 1971 … … — — — 1972 … … — — — 1973 (to date) 1 1 40 70 63 961