§ MR. BECKETT (Yorkshire, N.R., Whitby)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Mint is either unable or unwilling to supply more than a small proportion of the new silver required by the public at Christmas time; and whether he will take steps to induce the Mint to provide such an amount as will more nearly meet the public demand.
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe arrangements for the distribution of silver coin to meet public wants in England and Wales are made through the Bank of England, the amount of new silver coin estimated by the Bank as necessary to meet the Christmas demand this year was £445,000, and the whole of this has been issued by the Royal Mint. The Bank has a large stock of silver coin in hand to meet trade requirements.