HC Deb 30 June 1969 vol 786 c50W
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate in respect of each of the three prosecutions under Statutory Instrument No. 438 1966 in January and February, 1969, whether those accused were buying, selling or holding gold coins without Treasury permission; and if he will specify the number and type of coins in each case.

Mr. Harold Lever

The offences under the Exchange Control Act, 1947, and the number and types of coins involved were as follows:

Middlesex: one person involved

Offence: holding*

Gold coins: 65 sovereigns.

Blackpool: six people Involved

Offences:

  1. (a) one person holdings* 396 gold coins.
  2. (b) four people buying a total of 318 gold coins.
  3. (c) one person guilty on five counts for selling a total of 289 gold coins, and another person (also guilty of buying. and listed in (b) above) selling 50 gold coins.

Gold coins: mainly sovereigns, and a few half sovereigns.

Nottingham: one person involved.

Offence: holding*

Gold coins: mainly sovereigns, and a few other coins totalling 348 gold coins in all.

* Holding is failure to comply with Section 2 of the Exchange Control Act 1947.