Part of Orders of the Day — Dog Racecourse Betting (Temporary Provisions) Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 March 1947.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
12:00,
21 March 1947
I do not intend to trouble the Committee for more than a few moments, but, as hon. Members will see, Subsections (2) and (3) of this Clause contain a shifting of the onus in the case of possible criminal prosecution for breach. I appreciate that the proviso of Subsection (2) enables the occupier of a track to escape, if he proves his ignorance of the breach by some other person. I would be grateful if the right hon. Gentleman would say something as to the necessity for this shifting of the onus. I am sure that the Committee will not wish a provision of this sort to be inserted in the Bill unless there is some good reason for it, unless it is clearly unenforceable by any other means. In the absence of any explanation from the Minister, it would be wrong for the Committee to pass this Clause, which would make the occupier of a track criminally liable for the offence of some other person. I therefore hope that the right hon. Gentleman can offer us some reassurance on this point.
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