§ 20. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to several recent instances of bogus charitable collections; and whether he proposes to take steps to carry into effect the recommendations of the departmental committee which he set up, and establish some system of control over charity collections?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe only recent case which has come to my notice is oils in which a collector was convicted by a Scottish Court. It would appear that the ordinary criminal law was adequate to deal with that case. As I have already stated, I am preparing a Bill to carry out the recommendations of the recent Inter-Departmental Committee.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIs the Home Secretary aware that these bogus collections and charities are very detrimental to the really good causes for which collections are genuine; and is he going to take steps to bring in legislation this Session so that the recommendations of the Committee may be carried into effect?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSGenerally speaking, the hon. and gallant Gentle man has correctly stated the po6ition in regard to bogus charities. I am preparing a Bill, and the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury will say whether there is any' possibility of it being carried this Session.