§ 37. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the total cost of labour and materials used in minting the new crown pieces.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt would not be in the public interest to disclose the figure asked for by the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs not that a really astonishing statement? How is it that this decision has suddenly been arrived at? Is it because we have discovered, after questioning, that it costs a halfpenny to make a farthing? What is the reason for the refusal to give the cost?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe reason is that the Royal Mint undertakes a considerable amount of work for foreign Governments in respect of which it has to tender against competition. It would 1118 obviously hinder it in its admirable activities as a trading concern doing work for foreign Governments if details of its costs had to be disclosed to its competitors.
§ Mr. PagetIs it a fact, therefore, that it mints crowns for foreign Governments—and, if so, which Governments—but does not mint farthings for foreign Governments, because we have been given the costs in that case?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf the hon. and learned Gentleman will put that question down I shall be glad to answer it.
Mr. Glenvil HallIs this a change of policy, or has the Government's spokesman always refused to give the cost?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not want to embarrass the right hon. Gentleman, but there are a number of precedents for refusing disclosure and, I think, only one, the farthing, for revealing the cost.
Mr. VaneWill my hon. Friend say whether he is likely to refer the activities of the Royal Mint to the Monopolies Commission?