§ 19. Mr. H. Leverasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost in foreign currency to date of the repatriation of £ notes recently undertaken.
§ Mr. MaudlingAn exact figure cannot be given, but during the first month of freedom for imports of sterling notes the amount repatriated appears to have been small.
§ Mr. LeverOf course, the Bank of England and the public appear to have different views about what is "small." Could not the House be given some idea of the total figure involved to date in actual money terms rather than the adjectival terms that the Minister has condescended to use?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not think it would be possible to give that information. The hon. Member referred to the total cost in foreign currency. The cost in foreign currency is not necessarily anything like the same figure as the total amount of sterling notes imported.