§ 86. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total number of sovereigns and half-sovereigns in circulation before the War; what is the number of £1 and 10s. currency notes in circulation now; and whether these currency notes can be printed at about five or six for a penny?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe estimated amount of gold coin held by banks (excluding gold coin held by the issue department of the Bank of England) on 30th June, 1914, was £123,000,000. The number of currency notes outstanding on the 12th instant was: £1 notes, 259,951,732; 10s. notes, 88,253,137. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. LAMBERTDoes the hon. Gentleman mean, by gold in the hands of banks, all the gold in the hands of the public as well?