HC Deb 09 March 1920 vol 126 cc1097-8
42. Mr. DOYLE

asked whether great numbers of false £1 and 10s. notes are in circulation throughout the United Kingdom; if such spurious money is coming into the country from oversea; if so, what is the country of origin; and what steps are being taken to cope with the evil at its fountain head?

Mr. SHORTT

There have been a few cases of the uttering of false £1 Treasury notes, but it is believed that they were all made in this country and that the author of at least some of them was a person who was convicted and sentenced a few months ago. Though specimens of forged British notes, believed to have been printed in Russia, have been sent to this country from South Russia for identification, there is no reason to believe that spurious money is coming into this country from oversea. The forgeries were so badly done that they would scarcely have passed in England.