§ MR. THEODORE TAYLOR (Lancashire, Radcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his atttention has been called to a recent Old Bailey case of counterfeit coining, in which the prisoner admitted that he had learnt how to make counterfeit coin from a full description of it in a daily newspaper by a criminal; and whether, in view of the opinion expressed by the jury and by the Common Sergeant condemning the action of such newspaper, he will state whether he can take any steps to prevent such facilitation of crime in future.
*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERSDOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sYes, Sir; and I have consulted the Common Sergeant in the matter. I fully agree with his opinion as to the mischievous tendency of the article in question, and that the newspaper which published it is deserving of the gravest censure. I cannot, however, say more than that the whole question of incitement to crime by means of such articles is receiving the attention of my Department and of the Director of Public Prosecutions.