§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have taken place in Scotland in each of the past two years with respect to minimum wage rates under the Wages Councils Act; what was the charge in each case; what were the total arrears in each case; and what was the penalty in each case.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandNo prosecutions have taken place in Scotland in 1979 or 1980 with respect to minimum wage rates under the Wages Councils Acts of 1959 or 1979. However, one prosecution took place in Scotland in 1979 in connection with an obstruction of an authorised officer in respect of a failure to comply with a requirement to produce for inspection relevant records of wages, in contravention of section 19(6) of the 1959 Act. The penalty imposed on 23 July 1979 was a fine of £30 and the question of arrears did not arise in the criminal proceedings.