§ Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the discovery of forged National Insurance stamps in the Newcastle upon Tyne department; and 122W whether he will make a statement on the extent of the forgery and the action he has taken.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithYes. A number of forged stamps have been detected by our inspectors, and at the Central Records Office at Newcastle, where surrendered cards are examined by special apparatus, but I am not yet able to assess the extent of the forgery. I understand that the police have made some arrests. My Department issued a warning on 30th March that forged National Insurance stamps were in circulation, with a reminder that the only legal method of obtaining National Insurance stamps is by buying them at a post office.