§ 1. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the methods adopted by newspapers calling themselves matrimonial journals, in which members of the public are defrauded out of sums of money for bogus introductions; and if he will consider introduction of legislation to prohibit publication of these journals?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I am not aware of any need for fresh legislation to protect the public against fraud. If a person has been defrauded, he should report the matter to the police with a view to the offence being dealt with under the existing law.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that several of the leading papers have been drawing attention to this matter for some time; and that this fraud is not only a matter of obtaining money but that there is another ulterior motive in these introductions?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member bases his question on fraud. If he has been defrauded in this matter he has a remedy under the existing law.