§ 50. Mr. COCKSasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the recent proceedings against Mr. J. Maundy Gregory for attempting to obtain £10,000 as an inducement for endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour; whether it was drawn also to the statement made by the inspector in charge of the case that a number of similar complaints had been made to the police; whether he can state over what period those complaints extended; and whether any steps will be taken to investigate those complaints in the public interest?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder, the complaints extended over a period of about three years: they have already been investigated by the Police but no sufficient evidence has been obtained to justify criminal proceedings.
§ Mr. COCKSWere those complaints from people who had paid money and had not received a title, or were they about people who, having received a title, had not paid the money?