§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged 339W with, and how many convicted of, offences on board ferries sailing to or from United Kingdom ports in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will specify in each case the nature of the offence.
§ Mr. MayhewThe information requested is not available because information collected centrally on court proceedings does not generally indicate the circumstances or the location of the offence. The data available for 1979 on offences of drunkenness on board ships, not necessarily ferries, are given in the following table.
Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of offences relating to drunkenness on board ships England and Wales 1979 Number of defendants Offence Proceeded against Found guilty Person being drunk on board a passenger steamer and refusing to leave such a steamer at a place at which he can conveniently do so when requested* 2 2 Seaman under the influence of drink or drugs while on duty† 5 3 * Section 287(b) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894. † Section 28 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970.