§ 19. Mr. Proudfootasked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the advantages and disadvantages of a duodecimal system in so far as it would affect the United Kingdom export trade.
§ Mr. MaudlingI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to currency and I cannot add to the assurance my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave him on 21st February that export considerations will be taken into account in the Government consideration of the question of adopting a decimal currency.
§ Mr. ProudfootDoes my right hon. Friend realise that if we adopted the duodecimal system we should be the only country using it and that it would seriously damage exports?
§ Mr. MaudlingI am told that the last people to use the duodecimal system were the Babylonians, and I doubt whether we shall go back to that.