§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licence holders were prosecuted for selling alcoholic liquor to persons who were under age in the last 10 years for which information is available; and in how many cases convictions were obtained. [12130]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of persons proceeded against where the main offence was under section 68(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act is in the table.
Year Number proceeded against Charge proved 1985 175 90 1986 212 106 1987 231 113 1988 270 106 1989 156 78 1990 134 68 1991 151 63 1992 80 39 1993 77 35 1994 81 29
§ Mr. CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licence holders were prosecuted by the procurator fiscal at Linlithgow for selling alcoholic liquor to persons who were under age in the last 10 years for which information is available; and in how many cases convictions were obtained. [12131]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of persons proceeded against in Linlithgow sheriff court and West Lothian district court where the main offence was under section 68(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act is as follows:
Year Number proceeded against Charge proved 1985 2 0 1986 0 0 1987 3 1 1988 2 2 1989 3 2 1990 7 6 1991 0 0 1992 0 0 1993 1 1 1994 0 0
§ Mr. CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Lord Advocate last issued directions to procurators fiscal with regard to the policy to be adopted in relation to prosecutions for the sale of alcoholic liquor to persons who are under age. [12132]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has not issued directions to procurators fiscal with regard to the prosecution of persons who are alleged to have contravened the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976. General732W guidelines on the prosecution of all summary offences, and on the use of alternatives to prosecution, were issued to procurators fiscal on 1 December 1995.
§ Mr. CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy with regard to the prosecution of(a) licence holders who sell alcoholic liquor to persons who are under age and (b) persons who are under age who purchase alcoholic liquor. [12133]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe prosecution of persons charged with a contravention of section 68 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976—prohibition on sale of alcoholic liquor to a person under 18—is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. Procurators fiscal will take court proceedings in cases where there is sufficient evidence and where, having regard to all the circumstances, a prosecution would be in the public interest.