§ 51. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Royal Mint has this year been forbidden by His Majesty's Government to again strike Empire Day medals for the British Empire Union for distribution to children on Empire Day, especially having regard to the fact that such medals have been regularly executed at the Royal Mint to the order of the British Empire Union for the last three years?
§ Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCEIn the circumstances of this particular case it was considered that the order was more appropriately left to a private contractor.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the hon. Gentleman say what were the special circumstances of the ease, having regard to the fact that the Royal Mint struck these medals for three years and made a satisfactory profit out of the transaction?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEClearly, any Government Department, in a trading capacity, must be permitted the same discretion in the acceptance or rejection of orders as commercial houses enjoy.
§ Sir W. DAVISONBut is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Royal Mint did not reject the order, but was in- 800 strutted by the Government to refuse the order?