§ 45. Colonel Ropnerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why British shillings and florins are minted in the United States of America.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gaitskell)British shillings and florins are not minted in the United States of America.
§ Colonel RopnerCan the right hon. Gentleman say why bags of 10 florins, £2 in florins, marked "Made in USA." are handed across the counter of banks in Bermuda, and if the wording "Made in U.S.A." applies only to the paper wrapper, does he not think it very misleading, and why in any case do we need to buy American paper?
§ Mr. GaitskellI should not have thought it was particularly misleading that the wording "Made in U.S.A." applied to the wrapper, as presumably is the case. I do not really understand why it has been suggested that the coins themselves were minted in the U.S.A.
§ Colonel RopnerDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that if one gets a packet with £2 of florins in it and with the writing on it "Made in U.S.A.", the natural assumption is that the florins were made in U.S.A.?
§ Mr. GaitskellI should not have drawn that conclusion, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman must judge for himself whether it is natural or not.