§ 23. Mr. Lubbockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Forgery Act, 1913, so that frivolous prosecutions of persons in possession of play money cannot be brought.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganNo, Sir. I think that consideration of any such amendment must await the outcome of the review of the law of forgery which the Law Commission has included in its recently published Second Programme.
Mr. LnbbockHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the series of recent cases in which persons have been prosecuted and found guilty for having in their possession bits of paper bearing a remote resemblance to dollar bills? Is it not obvious that these were designed as political pamphlets, and could not be mistaken for real money? What steps does the hon. Gentleman propose to take to avoid the waste of time in the courts which is occurring as a result of these frivolous prosecutions?
§ Mr. MorganI am aware of one case, that of Stuart Christie, which is still sub judice. The fact that imitation money may be tendered for innocent purposes does not necessarily make it harmless. 1678 We must afford adequate protection against imitation money, whatever the purpose for which it might be intended, being passed off as real.