§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N. W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many silver coins there are in the Bank of England ready for circulation in addition to the 3,660,000 shillings and 3,000,000 sixpences stated to be there; if any more are being coined; whether any officials in the Mint have a pecuniary interest in the Birmingham Mint; and whether the recent Colonial order for silver and bronze was executed at Birmingham; and, if so, can he explain why?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN, St. George's,) Hanover SquareApart from the large number of shillings and sixpences, there 326 is at the Bank of England at this moment not less than £178,000 worth of silver coins ready for issue, and the number of pieces cannot be less than 1,500,000, while the coinage of silver is still proceeding at the Mint. As regards the execution of Colonial orders by a private company at. Birmingham, the Deputy-Master of the Mint is always most anxious that the Mint should be able to cope with any demands that may be made upon it; but the continued and excessive requirement for Imperial coin has recently obliged the Mint to refer two Colonial orders to Birmingham. Colonial orders are only placed in the hands of this private company when it is absolutely impossible for the Royal Mint to undertake them. I have heard to-day with much regret a fact which was unknown to the Deputy-Master before, that two officials of the Mint hold some shares in the Birmingham company. This ought certainly not to be.