HC Deb 19 May 1953 vol 515 cc1854-5
15. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made to enable members of the public who have no banking accounts to obtain Coronation crown pieces.

Mr. R. A. Butler

By arrangement with the Royal Mint all the larger banks have agreed to accept orders for crown pieces from any member of the public whether customer or not.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

If that is so, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer let the people of London know to which banks they can go of which they are not customers, and where those banks will gladly let them have 5s. pieces?

Mr. Butler

My answer is that it is from all the larger banks, but I will certainly inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman what I mean by that expression.

Sir H. Williams

May I ask my right hon. Friend what he meant when he said "by arrangement with the Mint"? As he is Master of the Mint, does he make arrangements with himself?

Mr. Butler

The Mint is accustomed to accept my slightest word as law.

16. Mr. Holman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what facilities are available for obtaining Coronation crowns otherwise than through the banks.

Mr. R. A. Butler

About 100,000 crown pieces have been ordered by and will be supplied to recognised coin dealers by the Royal Mint.

Mr. Holman

How will it be possible for the majority of Her Majesty's subjects to become possessed of this interesting Coronation souvenir when they are not customers of the banks, and the Bank of England have announced to one of my constituents that they will only have an issue for their own staff and their own customers?

Mr. Butler

The recognised channels for the dispersal of these coins are the banks, and I think we had better leave it like that unless the hon. Gentleman can make me any better suggestion.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Would it be possible for an arrangement to be made to supply these coins through the Post Office, or would it put too much work on an already overburdened Department?

Mr. Butler

Hitherto that proposal has been turned down for the very reason suggested by the right hon. Gentleman, but as there is obviously an interest in this matter, I will look into it in the light of what has been said.