§ 41. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what criteria the payment of compensation will be made in special circumstances with respect to expenditure or losses incurred arising from machine conversions following the change to decimal currency.
§ Mr. MacDermotIt will be for the Decimal Currency Board to consider representations about special circumstances. The Government will decide what, if any, compensation to pay in the light of such recommendations as the Board may make.
§ Mr. LeadbitterDoes my hon. and learned Friend agree that it has been calculated on the basis of the conversion of machines, in particular, that there will be an expenditure in terms of replacement or conversion of something like £80 million? Since the Labour Government will be in office in 1970, could we now have some understanding with the traders involved about some pertinent criteria in which compensation can be paid—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."]—because the present conditions—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Even the Hartlepools must be brief.
§ Mr. Leadbitter—because the present conditions are causing concern?
§ Mr. MacDermotI would remind my hon. Friend that there are no present conditions other than that we do not intend to have a general scheme for compensation. Anyone who considers that he has a special claim for compensation is entitled and is asked to make out his case to the Decimal Currency Board.