§ 51. Mr. J. Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the waste of time and money caused by the issue by each Scottish bank of its own design of notes; and if he will introduce legislation to require that a standard form of note should be issued by Scottish banks.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe answer to both parts of the Question is, "No, Sir."
§ Mr. TaylorDoes the Minister not think it is rather ridiculous that we should have these seven different kinds of £1 notes? Does he appreciate that, according to the most conservative estimate I can obtain of the number of man hours wasted by the employees of Scottish banks in separating these notes for the Exchange, 2 million man hours are lost per year? Would it not therefore be sensible to encourage 1512 the production of one kind of Scottish £1 note?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that Question time, immediately before a Supply Day on Scottish affairs, would be an appropriate occasion to announce the termination of rights enjoyed by Scottish organisations for over 100 years.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the Minister aware that it is important, before this perhaps quite wise economy is made, to make sure that it does not result in the closing of a large number of branches of Scottish banks which depend upon the issue of the Scottish £1 notes?
§ Mr. LewisCan the Financial Secretary arrange to have the evidence produced by my hon. Friend circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI will give sympathetic consideration to that request.
§ Mr. AsshetonWould not my hon. Friend think it very boring if we all had the same kind of tie?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. StokesIt would be worse if we all had the same kind of face.