asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have been undertaken under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 contains only two offences—namely, intentionally obstructing a constable in the exercise of his powers of search for offensive weapons and concealing an offensive weapon from such a constable. In the period from 1 February to 31 December 1981, there were two persons prosecuted in respect of whom the main charge proved was the obstruction offence and a further two persons prosecuted in respect of whom the main charge proved was the concealment offence.