asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of prosecutions which have been instituted under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, in respect of oil being discharged or allowed to escape in waters to which the Act applies?

I am unable to state definitely the total number of such prosecutions, as there is no requirement that particulars of such proceedings shall be reported to the Board of Trade. I am, however, aware of 23 cases in which prosecutions under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act or Local Harbour Acts have been instituted since 1922.