Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many cases have already been brought to the attention of the Public Prosecutor where it is alleged that 5 per cent. War Bond policies have been issued and premiums collected by the Prudential Assurance Company under similar circumstances to the case recently tried at Hull County Court, where this company was found guilty of obtaining money as the result of fraudulent misrepresentations?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions is inquiring into the evidence with regard to 11 cases in which the facts are alleged to be similar to those in the case referred to in the question of the hon. Member. I should add, however, that the statement in the latter part of the hon. Member's question, that "the company were found guilty of obtaining money as a result of fraudulent misrepresentations," is misleading, the fact being that the company were held by the learned County Court Judge to be civilly liable to refund the sums paid by the plaintiff to the agents of the company on the ground of the fraudulent misrepresentations of such agents; there is no evidence that the representations in question were made with the authority of the directors of the company.