§ Mr. Hornbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the figure of £433,580 which at the end of November, 1969 represented sales of gold coins under Statutory Instrument No. 438 to members of the London Gold Market; and if he will list the other authorised channels through which sales of gold coins could have been made since the Statutory Instrument came into force on 27th April, 1966.
§ Mr. Taverne:The figure at end April, 1970 was about £446,590. The other channels are mainly coin dealers and auctioneers authorised by the Bank of England.
§ Mr. Hornbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons have been prosecuted since 24th November, 1969 in respect of buying, selling or holding gold coins without Treasury permission and contrary to the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 438, 1966; and how many persons have been convicted, on what dates, with what sentences, and in respect of what number and types of coins in each case.
§ Mr. Taverne:There has been one such prosecution. It involved one person who was convicted on 6th April, 1970 and fined 548W £50. The coins in the case were 53 sovereigns and 1 half sovereign.