§ 8. Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will authorise the issue of crown coins to the value of 5s. again.
§ Mr. du CannNo, Sir.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopWill my hon. Friend understand that my gratitude for that reply is formal rather than fundamental? Is he aware that for many purposes, for instance the purchase of a gallon of petrol from a machine, the crown is a coin of the smallest possible value which can be used? In many country districts in particular, where labour is hard to get, the issue of a coin which is of sufficient value to purchase many articles which are potentially saleable by mechanism is highly desirable, and nor is the coin of an inconvenient size.
§ Mr. du CannWe shall certainly note what my hon. Friend has said. In recent years the minting of crowns has been limited to special historic occasions, but I think that any changes or unusual practices in relation to our coinage must now await the decisions made in the light of the Halsbury Report, which will probably be published in the autumn.