41. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what facilities Her Majesty's Mint have given to German banking firms in connection with the issue of ducats and other gold coins bearing a portrait of Her Majesty.
§ Mr. ErrollNone, Sir. I should add that the pieces in question are medals and not ducats.
Mr. WilsonSince it was stated in The Times that the German banks themselves called them ""—I put the word "ducats" in inverted commas in the Question as submitted—and since it was further stated that the Mint had co-operated by supplying facsimiles for this purpose, is the hon. Gentleman aware that his assurance that no help has been given, denying the Press statements, will be very well received, particularly since this is part of a series including coins, ducats or medals—whatever they may be—incorporating pictures of Hitler, Mussolini and others?
§ Mr. ErrollI should have thought the right hon. Gentleman would have realised that it is always a rather hazardous occupation to copy out one's Questions from columns in the newspapers. [An HON. MEMBER: "Even from The Times?"] Yes, even from The Times. However, I shall be glad to put the right hon. Gentleman's mind at rest by telling him that, in response to a request, the Royal Mint gave some help to the Munich Mint, and not the German banking firms with regard to the design of a portrait medal.