§ MR. J. B. SMITHsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the prospective Master of the Mint, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any intention of removing the Royal Mint from its present site on Tower Hill?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I hope I may answer my hon. Friend's Question without assuming a title which I do not possess. We have five acres of land on Tower Hill, occupying what we may call a most eligible situation; three acres of it only are taken up with Mint buildings, and the other portion is occupied by a very excellent tenant, Sir Anthony Rothschild, for purposes of refining. We think it is a waste of public money to keep this large tract of land, and we hope to mature a plan for moving the Mint rather more into the centre of London; and when we do so we shall be very happy to sell this exceedingly eligible allotment of land for a suitable price.