SILVER COIN FOR THE WEST INDIA COLONIES.

HC Deb 04 January 1894 vol 20 c816

MR. BRODIE HOARE

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual amount of profit which accrues to Her Majesty's Treasury from the sale of British silver coin to the British West India Colonies and British Guiana?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) Derby

The seignorage in the last, 20 years has averaged about £11,700 net. And I may add that in the later years the average has been higher in consequence of the great fall in the price of silver.

MR. BRODIE HOARE

Will the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to sanction the small expenditure required by the Postmaster General for special trains for the West India mails out, of this surplus, so that the mails may be delivered in good time?

SIR W. HARCOURT

My surplus funds are very limited.